Blast, gunfire kill 16 in E. Afghanistan

JALALALABD, Afghanistan - A total of 21 people including five attackers were killed and nine others injured as a blast followed by gun shots rocked Jalalabad city, the capital of eastern Nangarhar province on Wednesday, provincial government spokesman Attaullah Khogiani said.

"A group of terrorists occupied a building of a construction company today morning and after conducting a blast, obviously a suicide one begun firing at nearby, killing 16 employees of the company and injuring nine others," Khogiani told Xinhua.

However, he said that security forces cordoned off the area, and after hours of fighting and killing five attackers, the situation was brought under control.

Without hinting at any special group or individuals for launching the deadly attack, the official said that investigation is underway.

Neither the Taliban nor the Islamic State group that are active in Nangarhar province has claimed responsibility.