6 Red Cross staff killed in Afghanistan, IS suspected

KABUL, Feb 9: Six Afghan staff members of the International Committee of the Red Cross were shot and killed and two others abducted in northern Afghanistan on Wednesday, officials said.

The killings took place as the Red Cross convoy was distributing livestock in a remote district of Jowzjan province, in an area where Islamic State militants are known to operate.

The provincial governor, Lotfullah Azizi, said three of the humanitarian agency’s employees and three drivers were shot at close range while two others were unaccounted for and believed to have been kidnapped by Islamic State fighters.

ICRC issued a statement condemning “what appears to be a deliberate attack on our staff,” although it said it did not know who was to blame. AGENCIES