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Explosions, Gunfire Strike Eastern Afghan City

by Reuters

   JALALABAD, AFGHANISTAN --

   A number of explosions were reported in the eastern Afghan city of
   Jalalabad and gunshots could be heard in the area of a dormitory for
   trainee midwives, local officials said Saturday.

   Attaullah Khogyani, the provincial government spokesman, said at least
   some of the students, most of them from Nuristan province in eastern
   Afghanistan, had been evacuated from the building.

   Smoke could be seen rising from the site as security forces and
   ambulances rushed to the scene, which was blocked off to traffic. There
   was no immediate word on casualties.

   The attack is the latest in a series to have hit Jalalabad in recent
   weeks, causing dozens of casualties.

   There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but recent attacks have
   been claimed by Islamic State, which has a stronghold in the
   surrounding province of Nangarhar, on the border with Pakistan.