IS attack on Afghan prison kills 21

KABUL (AP) — An Islamic State group attack on a prison in eastern Afghanistan holding hundreds of its members raged on Monday after killing at least 21 people in fighting overnight, a local official said.

Another 43 people have been wounded in the attack that began late Sunday when an Islamic State suicide bomber slammed his explosive-laden vehicle into the prison entrance.

More assailants opened fire. Three attackers have been killed so far but the battle continued Monday with sporadic gunfire still coming from the prison grounds, said Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the governor of Nangarhar province.

Some of the dead were prisoners, said Khogyani. as well as civilians, prison guards and Afghan security personnel.

The prison assault struck Jalalabad, Nangarhar’s provincial capital some 115 kilometers (70 miles) east of the capital, Kabul.