Helmand suicide bombing leaves 2 dead, 16 hurt

LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): One policeman and a civilian were killed and 16 others, including five children, wounded in a suicide car bombing in southern Helmand province on Thursday, an official said.

The attack targetting a Public Order Police (POP) took place at around 2:30pm in the Lashkari locality of Lashkargah, the provincial capital, the governor’s spokesman told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Omar Zwak said most of the injured were POP officials and children. Sources in the civil hospital confirmed receiving two bodies and 16 injured people — mostly civilians.

Abdul Shakoor, a resident of the locality, said: “The explosion happened in front of my house and injured my sons. Windowpanes in nearby homes and buildings were broken due to the intensity of the explosion.”

POP Commander Col. Nazak Mir confirmed the blast and said some officials had been injured in the attack. However, he did not give a specific number of wounded officials.

Meanwhile, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing. He said at least 18 POP personnel had been killed, an assertion rejected by the authorities.

nh/mud

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