6 killed as bombers raid Afghan courthouse

The militants are stepping up their annual spring offensive after naming a new leader. “Four attackers entered the court compound after killing the guard,” provincial police chief Aminullah Amarkhail told AFP. “One of the attackers detonated his suicide vest inside the compound and the three others were gunned down by police.”

The interior ministry said five civilians and one policeman were killed in the 30-minute attack, which left bloodied corpses littered around the complex. Amarkhail said 13 others were wounded.

On Tuesday the Taliban killed 10 people after pulling them off buses in the northern province of Kunduz, officials said, revising down their earlier toll of 16. The militants also kidnapped dozens of passengers, saying they were targeting Afghan security officials aboard the buses passing through the insurgency-prone district of Aliabad.

Most of the passengers have since been released but a handful are still in Taliban captivity, officials said, without giving a precise number.

The violence underscores Afghanistan’s fragile security situation as the militants intensify assaults against troops and police after launching their spring offensive in April.