Suicide blast rocks Afghan Khost city, killing and injuring several people

Districts of Khost (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

KHOST, Afghanistan, June 20 (Xinhua) -- A suicide bombing rocked Khost city the capital of Khost province 150 km southeast of capitla Kabul on Wednesday, leaving 18 people dead including the attacker and injuring 35 others, hospital sources said.

"Eleven dead bodies and 15 injured have been taken to Civil Hospital in Khost city," head of the civilian hospital in Khost city, Abdul Majid told Xinhua.

Meantime, some dead and injured people have been taken to a private hospital there.

"We have received six dead bodies including two police and 20 injured men mostly civilians," Badri Gul, a doctor in a private hospital, told Xinhua.

On the other hand, Sardar Mohammad Zazai, the police chief of Khost province, said the bomber riding a motorbike blew himself up next to a military convoy.

However, he did not comment on the casualties, saying the bomber was killed in his blast. "It is too early to comment about the casualties," Zazai said, adding investigation is underway.

Locals said that attack took place at around 12:00 noon while a convoy of foreign forces was passing Faiz Mohammad Khan area in Khost city, inflicting casualties.

from XINHUA
2012-06-20 17:06:45

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other sources:

Reuters:

Suicide bomber kills 10 civilians in Afghan east

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NYTimes:

Suicide Bomber Strikes Coalition Convoy in Eastern Afghanistan

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UPDATE from U.S. Embassy Kabul:

3 members of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and an Afghan interpreter lost their lives in this reprehensible action. 3/8
— U.S. Embassy Kabul (@USEmbassyKabul) June 20, 2012

Posted in: Afghanistan, Kabul, Khost, Suicide attack