Police reported on Wednesday that Taliban insurgents fatally shot 10 Afghan nationals working for a de-mining agency in an attack on their camp in the north of the country.

Afghanistan has seen increasing violence since Washington announced plans in April to pull out all of its troops by September 11. According to government officials, Taliban insurgents are fighting government forces in 26 out of 34 provinces.

The assault on the mine-clearing workers took place late on Tuesday in Baghlan province, which has been witnessing heavy fighting over the recent weeks.

The workers were with the Halo Trust, the largest demining organisation in Afghanistan, said provincial police spokesman Jawed Basharat.

Basharat said “the Taliban brought them into one room and opened fire on them.” Fourteen people were injured in the attack, he said.