Daily Times

ASADABAD – At least 11 persons – including an Afghan militia commander – were killed and over 40 others wounded on Saturday in a suicide blast in Asadabad, capital of Afghanistan’s eastern province of Kunar.

According to the Khamaa Press website, the suicide bomber was riding a motorcycle and detonated his explosives near the provincial Governor House and police station.

Provincial Governor Wahidullah Kalimzai said the bomber rode up on a motorcycle to the entrance of a government compound in the town of Asadabad and detonated his suicide vest. At least another 40 people were also wounded.

“Most victims were civilians and children who were either passing by or playing in the park,” he said. Rescue and security personnel reached the blast site. Security personnel cordoned off the area as a probe into the incident went under way.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility but the apparent target of the attack, a tribal elder and militia commander named Haji Khan Jan, was among the dead. He had been closely involved in a number of operations against the Taliban in his district last year.