KABUL: An Afghan official says that the militant Islamic state group stormed a religious school in eastern Nangarhar province, kidnapping 14 clerics who were teaching at the school and two administrators.

Mohammad Asif Shinwari, spokesman for the provincial education department, said on Monday that the attack by three armed men took place over the weekend.

No one has claimed responsibility but police and government officials blame IS militants, who are operating in the area.

Meanwhile in northern Afghanistan’s Baghlan province, police say gunmen shot and killed a senior government official. They say Mustafa Safayee was killed on Monday by two gunmen on a motorcycle.

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2017