Dr. Testsu Nakamura, the head of Japanese NGO Peace Japan Medical Services (PJMS), has been wounded – and five others killed -- in an attack in Jalalabad city in Nangarhar province on Wednesday morning, said Attaullah Khoghyani, a spokesman for the provincial governor.

The incident took place about 8 am local time after gunmen opened fire on his vehicle while he was travelling to “monitor a project,” Khoghyani said.

“Dr. Nakamura’s driver and four of his bodyguards were killed in the shooting,” he said, adding that “Nakamura has been transferred to a hospital and he is currently being treated.”

The gunmen fled and police are investigating, Khoghyani said.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

TOLOnews reporter Abdulhaq Omeri said that Dr. Nakamura has worked for more than a decade in the province and was recently awarded honorary Afghan citizenship by President Ghani.