Deadly car bomb hits Afghanistan’s Lashkar Gah
22 June 2017
At least 29 people killed and more than 50 wounded after bomb detonates outside bank branch in Helmand province.
Most of the casualties were civilians, according to Helmand governor [Noor Mohammad/AFP]
At least 29 people have been killed after a car bomb exploded outside a bank in Lashkar Gah, capital of the southern Afghan province of Helmand, the provincial governor said.
At least 60 people were wounded in the attack outside the New Kabul Bank branch and most of the casualties were civilians, Hayaullah Hayat said.
The blast took place around 12 noon local time (08:00 GMT), according to the governor’s spokesperson Omar Zwak, when civilians and members of the security forces waiting to collect their pay.
The blast upturned vehicles, left the area littered with charred debris and sent a plume of smoke rising in the sky.
The bank is believed to have been especially crowded ahead of the Eid holidays marking the end of Ramadan.
