Taliban members attacked the US consulate in Herat, western Afghanistan, this morning, setting off two car suicide bombs and launching a gunfight with Afghan security forces, the AP reports. Two Afghan police officers and an Afghan security guard were killed; some 17 civilians were injured, the BBC reports. As for consulate staff, they're all "safe and accounted for," the US says. At least seven of the attackers died, the AP notes. US forces were brought in to secure the area, Washington says.
The AP says it's not certain whether militants entered the compound, though an Afghan army spokesman tells the BBC attackers breached the perimeter. "A truck carrying attackers drove to the front gate, and attackers, possibly firing rocket propelled grenades and assault rifles, commenced attacking Afghan Protective forces on the exterior of the gates," says a US State Department rep. "Shortly after, the entire truck exploded, extensively damaging the front gate." Security forces this morning tweeted that security had been restored, "with all enemy forces being killed." The Taliban took responsibility for the attack. (More Afghanistan stories.)
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