Explosives-rigged bike goes off in Kandahar

KANDAHAR CITY (PAN): An explosives-rigged motorcycle exploded in the capital of southern Kandahar province, moments before a bomb disposal squad reached the site on Thursday, officials said.

There were no casualties in the explosion that took place in the Hazrat Jee Baba area in the limits of the fourth police district, Brig. Gen. Abdur Razzaq, the police chief, told Pajhwok Afghan News. 

After police spotted the motorcycle parked on a road, a bomb disposal was on its way to the site when the bike exploded, he said. Residents had been asked to vacate the area, he added.

Separately, 25 suspects were arrested in the province during the ongoing week. The men, including 11 militants, 10 criminals and four drug smugglers, were detained from different areas, police officer Rahmatullah Atrafi said. 

He added 69 landmines, nine guns, eight mortar shells, one machine gun, 12 Kalashnikovs, four walkie-talkies, two detonators, explosives and a motorcycle were recovered from the detainees.

Police also conducted an operation against illegal migrants in Kandahar City, arresting and deporting 30 Pakistani citizens.

mas/ma/mud