Taliban militants stormed a court in east Afghanistan on Sunday, killing seven people including the top provincial prosecutor, the Wall Street Journal quoted officials as saying.

Three assailants entered the appeal court building in Logar province during a ceremony to introduce the newly appointed chief prosecutor and started shooting at those present in the hall, the governor’s spokesman, Saleem Saleh said. 

Ten people, including the three attackers, were killed and 23 were wounded in the hourlong siege that followed, he said.

Afghan security forces deployed to rescue trapped workers inside the building and flush out the attackers eventually gunned them down before they could detonate their explosive vests, local officials said.

The Taliban swiftly claimed responsibility and said the attack was launched to avenge the deaths of six Taliban prisoners in May.

Source: MENA