Munir Farhad, provincial governor spokesperson, told country's Pajhwok Afghan News the incident took place around 2:00am midnight in the district. 

According to reports, the attackers stormed into the office of 'People In Need' NGO and killed the workers.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The NGO said in a statement: "With deep sorrow we inform that a PIN field office in Zare, Northern Afghanistan, was attacked in the night from 1st to 2nd June. Nine of our national colleagues were killed. Investigation is ongoing, the identity of the attackers is not known. PIN has been working in the area since 2002."

"We hereby express  our deepest condolences to the families of our colleagues, respect to their work, and we condemn this attack, unprecedented in its brutality. PIN immediately suspends all work in Afghanistan and is adopting measures to strengthen the security of its employees in the country," it said.