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10 killed from Afghan family heading to funeral: officials
KHOST, Afghanistan, Dec 17, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Ten members of the same
family were killed Tuesday when their car detonated a roadside bomb as they
were travelling to a funeral in eastern Afghanistan, officials said.
The victims had been driving in Khost province in a large station wagon-
type vehicle when the blast occurred, according to local and national
officials.
“The casualties include five men, two women and three children all from
one family,” Talib Mangal, a spokesman for Khost’s governor, told AFP.
“They were travelling to Logar province to attend a funeral.”
Provincial police spokesman Adil Haidar confirmed the toll and incident
details, while interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi added it was a
Taliban bomb placed by the side of the road.
The Taliban did not immediately comment.
Deadly violence continues to grip Afghanistan even as the US and the
Taliban negotiate on-off talks aimed at reducing America’s military footprint
in the country in return for the insurgents ensuring an improved security
situation.
Khost is southeast of Kabul and borders Pakistan.
BSS/AFP/RY/13:06 hrs