Herat residents fear Taliban in their homes and workplaces as it masses outside city

Western Afghan city all but under siege, prompting companies to hide documents in case staff are targeted

Organisations in the western Afghan city of Herat have begun removing important documents because of fears they could be used to target employees if seized by the Taliban, after three days of fighting raged around the city.

Herat airport was closed by battles around its perimeter, militants attacked a UN compound, killing a guard, and half the city was without power after electricity lines from Iran were damaged in the fighting.