Motorcycle suicide blast kills 5 in east Afghanistan

Motorcycle suicide blast kills 5 in east Afghanistan

2011-05-09 19:13:57 GMT+7 (ICT)

MEHTARLAM, AFGHANISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- A suicide blast in eastern Afghanistan killed at least five people and wounded at least another dozen, officials said Monday.

At around 10:15 a.m. local time, a motorcycle suicide bomber crashed into a gate of the Qarghae district headquarters building in Laghman province, which is located in eastern Afghanistan, the governor's spokesman Faizanullah Pathan told Pajhwok Afghan News.

The explosion took place close to a foreign military vehicle, which was near the district headquarters. Among the twelve injured were some foreign troops, but district chief, Saleh Mohammad said there was still no exact figure.

International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) later confirmed reports, saying a motorcycle borne suicide attack in Laghman province caused some casualties. "No ISAF servicemembers were killed, but two were wounded," the statement said.

The fatal victims were waiting to receive their national identity cards near the gate.

According to reports, Afghan and NATO-led ISAF officials had just wrapped up a meeting in the compound when the explosive-filled motorcycle rammed into the gate.

Through their spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban claimed responsibility of the attack.

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