At least 23 police officers were killed and 12 police and civilians injured in separate Taliban attacks in Afghanistan, officials said on Wednesday.
In the eastern province of Nangarhar, a suicide bomber blew himself up in a Hesarak district building, killing two policemen and wounding nine people, the provincial Governor’s spokesman said.
“The district governor is among the injured,” Ahmad Zia Abdul Zai said, adding that most of the injured were civilians.
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The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, saying the district Governor was also killed.
In the neighbouring province of Laghman, the rebels attacked two police posts overnight, killing seven officers.
“The insurgents attacked the posts in the provincial capital, Mehtarlam and Alingar district,” said Jamiyatullah Hamidi, deputy provincial Governor.
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“Five policemen were killed in Mehtarlam and two died in Alingar district.”
Elsewhere, six police were killed when several Taliban militants attacked police outposts in a remote district in the north-eastern province of Badakhshan.
“The insurgents attacked police checkpoints from several directions in Yomgan district early Tuesday. They destroyed a mobile phone tower to cut contact between the district and provincial capital,” said Abdul Qadir Sayyad, a police official.
“We could not send reinforcements to the area due to a lack of communication and bad weather conditions.” The Taliban said they had captured the district and raised their flag in the area.
Naveed Ferootan, spokesman for the Governor of Badakhshan province, said the attack was “heavier” than previous ones, describing the centre of the district as a “battlefield.” “Our forces tactically pulled back and are fighting from the mountaintops,” he said.
He said there were no figures for casualties because communication with the area had been cut.
A police officer, who requested anonymity said at least six police were killed.
In the southern province of Zabul, eight police were found dead two weeks after they were abducted by the Taliban, the deputy provincial Governor said.
“These policemen were kidnapped by the Taliban two weeks back in Naw Bahar district. We found their bodies this morning at the outskirts of the district,” said Mohammad Jan Rasoulyar.
“They were brutally shot in the head and chest.”