At least 18 people were killed and about 70 injured in an attack on a bank in Jalalabad, the capital of Afghanistan's the eastern Nangarhar province, the city's governor told reporters.
Two suicide bombers blew themselves up near the local office of Afghanistan's largest private Kabul Bank at about noon local time on Saturday. Five more gunmen burst into the bank and opened fire at staff and clients.
Attackers stroke at the moment when many government employees, including police and security officers, queued in the bank to receive their wages.
A four-hour shootout between security forces and attackers followed, in which many civilians were injured in the crossfire. Three attackers were also detonated suicide vests.
Earlier casualty reports put the number of victims at eight, with 60 injured. Some high-ranking police officials are said to be among those killed.
KABUL, February 20 (RIA Novosti)
