Blast, gunshots rock Shindand district in W. Afghanistan

HERAT, Afghanistan - A big blast, apparently caused by a car bomb, rattled Shindand district in western Afghanistan's Herat province on Thursday, police said.

"A big blast apparently a car bomb rocked Shindand district and followed by gun shots, casualties were feared," a police official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The blast occurred closed to a base of the national army, the official said, added that gunshots have been continuing.