Two bombs set up in push carts exploded minutes apart today in a provincial capital in southern Afghanistan, just two in a series of violent attacks across the country.
A young girl and a woman were killed and at least 14 other people were wounded in the first blast in front of a bank in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand Province, the Afghan Ministry of Interior said.
“I was going to get my salary from Kabul bank and there was a blast,” Afghan policeman Abdul Tawab said at the scene.
He was among Afghan security forces who were already at the first bombing site when they heard the second blast, which occurred in front of a high school about 3 kilometers away.
Five people, including an Afghan soldier, were injured in the second explosion less than a half—hour after the first, according to Daoud Ahmadi, a spokesman for the governor in Helmand province.
He said a third person had died in one of the two explosions, but it was unclear which one.
“The bomb was placed in a fruit cart,” said Gul Mohammad, who was injured by one of the bombs.
“We heard a big blast,” Mohammad said as he sat on a hospital bed being treated for a foot injury. “Then I saw lots of wounded people everywhere.”