Europe

German consulate in northern Afghanistan comes under attack

Associated Press
Published | Updated

An Afghan security personnel walks at the gate of the German consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif, capital of northern Balkh province, Afghanistan, Friday, Nov. 11, 2016. The consulate was attacked by a suicide car bomber who rammed the compound, killing four people and wounding more than 100, police and a doctor said Friday. (AP Photos/Shiwa Kiyanosh) (The Associated Press)

Afghan security personnel guard around an explosion crater near the German consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif, capital of northern Balkh province, Afghanistan, Friday, Nov. 11, 2016. The consulate was attacked by a suicide car bomber who rammed the compound, killing four people and wounding more than 100, police and a doctor said Friday. (AP Photos/Shiwa Kiyanosh) (The Associated Press)

Afghan security personnel guard at the explosion spot near German consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif, capital of northern Balkh province Afghanistan, Friday, Nov. 11, 2016. Germany's consulate in northern Afghanistan was attacked when a suicide car bomber rammed the compound, killing several people and wounding more than 100, police and a doctor said Friday. (AP Photos/Shiwa Kiyanosh) (The Associated Press)

An Afghan official says the German consulate in the northern Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif has come under attack.

Sher Jan Durrani, the spokesman for the police chief of Balkh province, said on Saturday a gun battle is going on at the consulate.

The Taliban issued a statement saying they had sent suicide attackers to the consulate.

Walter Hassmann, the German ambassador to Afghanistan, says the "incident is ongoing" and provided no further details.

Residents in the city reported hearing a huge explosion near the consulate which shattered windows in buildings nearby.

Germany has 938 soldiers stationed in Afghanistan, most of them in Balkh, as part of NATO's Resolute Support mission.

The Taliban's insurgency has spread from their southern heartland across the country in the past two years.