Afghanistan: Twin blasts hit western city of Herat

The fatalities occurred after a roadside bomb in the centre of the city, which is not far from the western border with Iran.

In the second assault, a suicide bomber attacked the Nato-led Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) base on the outskirts of the city.

The Taliban recently declared a "spring offensive" of attacks in Afghanistan.

'Several attackers'

An Afghan intelligence official in Herat said the first attack was a "powerful" bomb blast.

"It happened at a busy place at a busy time. The windows of nearby buildings were broken. I was nearby when the explosion took place," he told the BBC.

Witnesses at the scene of the PRT base said gunshots could still be heard. It is not yet clear if there are more casualties.

At least two suicide bombers were said to have attacked the compound, while a number of insurgents tried to get inside; Kazinform cites BBC News.

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