6 killed, 38 wounded in Daman suicide bombing

KANDAHAR CITY (Pajhwok): Six civilians were killed and 38 others wounded in a car bombing in the Daman district of southern Kandahar province on Sunday, an official said.

Acting spokesman for the governor, Dawa Khan Minapal, told Pajhwok Afghan News the car was denoted in front of the Mandisar Hospital around 12 noon, leaving six civilians dead and 38 others wounded.

Most of the victims were patients who had come to hospital for treatment, Minapal said, adding three of the wounded were Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers.

The blast took place when ANA soldiers were distributing aid to residents. The injured were immediately shifted to Kandahar Civil Hospital.

Public Health Director Dr Abdul Qayyum Pukhla confirmed receiving six bodies and 38 wounded people, saying two of them hospital nurses, seven children and three soldiers.

Resident Tor Gul said that foreign forces had come to their village and asked people to go to hospital to obtain aid an hour ahead of the incident.

A medic at Mandisar clinic, Khan Mohammad, said foreign troops had visited the facility for the first time. “They came here after visiting the village.

The NATO-led soldiers were asked by the clinic head that the medical aid should be distributed by his staff. But the troops rejected his proposal and started distributing medicine.

Mohammad said the powerful blast happened soon after the distribution began, causing many casualties and damaging the health facility. He also saw two foreign troops injured in the incident.

As usual, the Taliban claimed responsibility. The group’s spokesman Qari Yousaf Ahmadi identified the suicide bomber as Khalid. He said 16 foreigners were killed and one of their tanks destroyed.

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