Taliban storm Afghan court, kill seven

Taliban militants have stormed a court in northern Afghanistan, killing at least seven people including prosecutors, officials said.

Four attackers wearing army uniforms on Monday attacked a provincial appeals court in the city of Kunduz, triggering a four-hour gun battle with Afghan security forces, provincial police spokesman Sayed Sarwar Hussaini told AFP.

"They first blew up an explosives-laden car at the gate of the court and then entered the building," he said.

"The attackers killed six court officials and one police. Eight people were wounded," he said, adding that the militants were also killed.

Chief prosecutor Amruddin Amin said the gunmen went door-to-door in the court compound, shooting their victims at close range.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack on their website and said several court officials and prosecutors were killed.

They did not elaborate on the motive for the attack but the court was hearing several cases against Taliban militants.