8 civilians killed in Qalat roadside blast

QALAT (PAN): Eight civilians were killed a roadside bomb struck their vehicle near the capital of the southern Zabul province on Friday morning, officials said.

Deputy Governor Mohammad Jan Rassoulyar told Pajhwok Afghan News the explosion occurred near Qalat at 08:30am.

He said the roadside bombing happened in the Bakarzai area, 15 kilometres from Qalat, leaving dead five women, two children and a prayer leader. Their driver was wounded.

The victims were on their way from the Bakarzai village to the provincial capital, according to Rassoulyar, who accused the Taliban of planting the roadside bomb.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, which came weeks after the killing of 18 people in a similar attack in the Andar district of southern Ghazni province.

According to the Zabul police chief, Brig. Gen. Ghulam Sakhi Roghl Lewanai, three people were injured in the blast. He also blamed the Taliban for planting the bomb.

The UN said in July more than 1,300 non-combatants have been killed and over 2,500 others wounded in the conflict during the first six months of the current year.

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