Taliban insurgents, including at least two suicide bombers, attacked an Italian base in Herat on May 30th.

One witness reported seeing the bodies of several troops wearing foreign uniforms and saw smoke rising near an Italian-run, joint civilian and military provincial reconstruction team (PRT) base in Herat. Nato and Afghan officials were unable to confirm any casualties among Afghans or foreign troops.

A second witness told Reuters it appeared an unknown number of insurgents had entered a seven-storey building near the PRT and opened fire on the base from there.

Interior ministry spokesman Zemari Bashary said at least two suicide bombers had launched the attack outside the PRT in Herat, a normally peaceful city close to the border with Iran. He said no details about casualties were immediately available.