Afghanistan: 53 killed, injured in Saturday bombings

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan (AA) - The casualty toll from Saturday's bombings in Afghanistan's Helmand province surged to 53, an official said on Monday.

The deputy provincial intelligence chief became the latest victim of the explosions as he succumbed to wounds on Monday.

Umer Zwak, spokesman for the provincial governor, told Anadolu Agency Asif Khan, deputy head of the National Directorate of Security in Helmand, lost his life due to wounds he sustained in the explosions two days back.

With this, a total of five people lost their lives and 48 others got wounded in the Taliban-claimed attack during the Farmers’ Day celebrations over the weekend.

On Saturday, multiple blasts had rocked the Farmers' Day celebrations in connection with spring festivities in Lashkargah, the provincial capital.

Zwak said the explosives were hidden in samples of palm trees on display in the provincial capital, Lashkargah.

Multiple blasts ripped through a crowd of civilians and security officials on Saturday.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, saying the attack was aimed at top Afghan officials.

Afghan president Mohammad Ashraf Ghani condemned the attack at a public place.

“The terrorists are the enemies of peoples’ bright future and development, they are attacking civilian installations, gatherings and occasions to spread fear, horror and to hide their defeats on the war fronts”, Ghani said in a statement issued by the presidency.