IS-linked militants kill 30 abducted civilians in Afghanistan
Officials believe the killings were carried out by renegade Taliban fighters who have sworn allegiance to terror group.
Wednesday 26 October 2016 09:56, UK
Militants linked to Islamic State have killed 30 civilians in the Ghor province of Afghanistan.
A group of 33 people were abducted as they collected firewood and the victims, who included children, were shot dead as local people tried to rescue them.
Officials said the killings on Tuesday were a revenge attack after a two local IS commanders were killed during battles between the Taliban an Afghan security forces.
Deputy provincial police chief Ziauddin Saqib said both commanders were infamous figures in the area. He added that the "cowardly insurgents killed innocent civilians in revenge for their commanders killed by security forces".
Afghanistan has become increasingly unstable as the resurgent Taliban continue to push into urban areas and IS fighters recruit followers in the east of the country.
A spokesman for the provincial governor said he believes the militants behind the attacks and abductions were a renegade Taliban group that swore allegiance last year to Afghanistan's Islamic State affiliate.
The Afghan government is currently carrying out NATO-backed airstrikes against IS in Nangarhar.
The Taliban have stepped up attacks across Afghanistan in recent months, taking advantage of the warm weather to wage war against the Kabul government.
Many civilians have been caught in the crossfire and targeted by roadside bombs.
Kabul was shaken by a massive suicide bombing in July that struck a peaceful rally by Afghanistan's minority ethnic Hazara community, killing more than 80 people and wounding hundreds.