Car bomb kills 18 in southeast Afghanistan

A car bomb attack targeting local police in Afghanistan’s southeastern Khost Province has killed at least 18 people and wounded a number of others, Afghan officials say.

A car bomb attack targeting local police in Afghanistan’s southeastern Khost Province has killed at least 18 people and wounded a number of others, Afghan officials say.

The deadly attack occurred Saturday at Khost City’s Mujahid Square, the provincial governor’s spokesperson Mubariz Zadran announced, without offering any casualty figures.

Local press offered conflicting casualty tolls of 18 and more, citing various authorities. It was also not clear how many victims were civilians or police forces.

According to government authorities, the attack happened around 8:30 am local time after a bomber detonated his explosives while driving a vehicle near a military base and a football field.

The bombing came on the first day of Islam’s holy month of Ramadan, in which Muslims fast from dawn to dusk.