Eight dead in Afghan suicide bombing

A German soldier with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) guards a road at the site of a suicide attack on a German military convoy, in Kunduz, north of Kabul, Afghanistan. Militant attacks have left more than 34 dead and over 80 injured in Afghanistan this week. File Photo

At least eight people including a district governor were killed and 12 others injured on Friday when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the gate of a mosque in northern Afghanistan, an official said.

“The bomber was standing at the gate of a mosque to welcome the people who were attending a prayer ceremony, detonated his explosives vest, killing Sheikh Sadruddin Saadi, his two bodyguards and five civilians this morning in Dasht-e-Archi district,” said Enayatullah Khaliq, governor spokesman for Kunduz province.

“The district governor, who was attending the prayer ceremony of a tribal elder, was the target,” Mr. Khaliq said, adding that 12 civilians were injured.

Taliban sources were not immediately available for comment.

Militant attacks have left more than 34 dead and over 80 injured in Afghanistan this week.