23 killed as mortars hit cattle fair in Helmand

LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): At least 23 civilians were killed and another 15 wounded after mortars hit a cattle market in Sangin district of southern Helmand province on Monday, an official said.

Omar Zwak, the governor’s spokesman, told Pajhwok Afghan News the incident occurred at around 11:00am today.

He did not provide the exact number of figure but said elderly men and children were among the victims in the incident.

He said incident took place when some murder shells landed at the picnic as the security officials conducted their investigation in this regard.

But an eyewitness told Pajhwok 23 civilians were killed and another 15 wounded in the incident. He said some animals were also lost in the attack.’

Saifullah, a resident of the area, told Pajhwok that three mortar shells landed at a corner of the cattle fair and two of them exploded.

He claimed the mortars were fired from a military base in Haji Fatih Khan peach area.

Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi also confirmed the attack on the cattle market and blamed it on government forces. He said the attack inflicted heavy casualties on local residents.

pk/ma

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