Afghanistan: Suicide car bombing at bank kills 25

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL (AA) - At least 25 people were killed and over 50 others wounded in a suicide car bombing outside a state-run bank in southern Afghan province of Helmand on Thursday, an official said.

Umar Zwak, spokesman for the provincial governor, told Anadolu Agency many wounded people are in critical state.

The attacker rammed his explosive-laden vehicle into a crowd of civilians and security personnel, who were queuing-up to collect their salaries from Lashkargah city branch of the New Kabul Bank (NKB) ahead of Muslim festival of Eid, Zwak said.

“At around noon, a suicide car bomber attacked our brothers in the holy month of Ramadan,” he said, adding that a large number of civilians also fell victim to the blast.

The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attack.

The same NKB branch witnessed a suicide attack in February this year which claimed seven lives. This lender remains a top target for the militants.

Last month, armed militants stormed NKB branch in southeastern Paktia province leaving at least three people.

Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani condemned that attack. “The President condemns attack on Kabul Bank in Gardez as a cynical assault on Afghan people living their lives and doing business”, Ghani said back then.