11 civilians dead, 8 Romanian soldiers hurt in Kandahar blast

KABUL (Pajhwok): Nearly a dozen civilians were killed and eight NATO troops wounded in a suicide attack on foreign forces’ convoy in southern Kandahar province on Monday.

A security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Pajhwok Afghan News the explosion took place in the Abdullah Karez area of Daman district at 12:30pm.

He said six Romanian troops were wounded in the bombing, which left11 civilians dead. Nine others including two policemen were injured in the bombing.

The NATO’s Resolute Support (RS) said its eight service members were wounded in the vehicle-borne improvised explosion in a populated area in Daman district.

Several Afghan uniform police and Afghan civilians, including an apparent group of children, were either killed or wounded in the blast, the RS mission said in a statement.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with those wounded, and with the innocent Afghans whose lives were needlessly taken from them by the enemies of Afghanistan," said Gen. John Nicholson, Resolute Support commander. 

"In their spring offensive announcement, the Taliban students.”   

The wounded service members, who are all in stable condition, were taken to Kandahar Airfield's hospital for treatment.

 “If the enemies of Afghanistan think their cowardly actions will deter the commitment of the brave Afghan forces and our Resolute Support advisors, or the call by the Afghan people for peace, they are sorely mistaken," said Nicholson.

The Romanian Defense Ministry confirmed its eight soldiers were injured during a mission in Afghanistan The soldiers were transported to a hospital in Kandahar and they are out of danger, said the source.

“The injuries sustained in the attack don’t put their lives in danger,” said the minister of defense, Mihai Fifor. “Eight military with the 30th Battalion “Carpathian Vultures” Force Protection with Campulung Muscel were wounded on Monday at around 9:00am Romanian local time.”

The wounded troops were granted the first aid on the spot, after which they were sent to the military hospital in Kandahar, where they are in stable condition.

The incident came hours after twin suicide attacks killed 25 people, including six journalists, in Kabul. At least 45 others were wounded in the assault claimed by Daesh.

sa/mud/ma