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Afghan market car bomb kills dozens in Paktika province | |
(35 minutes later) | |
At least 50 people have been killed in a car bomb explosion at a busy market in eastern Afghanistan's Paktika province, the district governor says. | At least 50 people have been killed in a car bomb explosion at a busy market in eastern Afghanistan's Paktika province, the district governor says. |
Officials say the attacker drove a 4x4 vehicle into the market in Orgun district and detonated the explosives. | Officials say the attacker drove a 4x4 vehicle into the market in Orgun district and detonated the explosives. |
The market was crowded, full of people doing their shopping at the time of the attack. | The market was crowded, full of people doing their shopping at the time of the attack. |
The eastern province of Paktika shares a border with Pakistan's restive and volatile tribal areas. | The eastern province of Paktika shares a border with Pakistan's restive and volatile tribal areas. |
There have been no claims yet for Tuesday's attack. | There have been no claims yet for Tuesday's attack. |
Orgun is one of Paktika's safest areas, though members of the Haqqani militant network are thought to have a presence there. | Orgun is one of Paktika's safest areas, though members of the Haqqani militant network are thought to have a presence there. |
Ramadan shopping | |
The district governor of Orgun District, Mohammad Raza Kharoti, told the BBC that 50 people had been killed after a suicide attacker detonated his explosives whilst he was driving a car into the market. | The district governor of Orgun District, Mohammad Raza Kharoti, told the BBC that 50 people had been killed after a suicide attacker detonated his explosives whilst he was driving a car into the market. |
He said most of those killed were shopkeepers and people doing their Ramadan shopping. | |
"The bazaar was packed with civilians," he said. | |
A spokesman for Afghanistan's defence ministry earlier told the BBC's Bilal Sarwary that soldiers had recovered 40 bodies from the rubble. | A spokesman for Afghanistan's defence ministry earlier told the BBC's Bilal Sarwary that soldiers had recovered 40 bodies from the rubble. |
"Our soldiers are still trying to recover bodies. Almost all of the shops have fallen," General Zahir Azimi said. | "Our soldiers are still trying to recover bodies. Almost all of the shops have fallen," General Zahir Azimi said. |
Officials say that at least 30 people were also wounded in the attack. | Officials say that at least 30 people were also wounded in the attack. |
Eyewitnesses described seeing police and security forces pursuing the attacker before he entered the busy market and detonated the explosives. | Eyewitnesses described seeing police and security forces pursuing the attacker before he entered the busy market and detonated the explosives. |
One doctor says Orgun civilian hospital, where he works, had become overcrowded with casualties. | One doctor says Orgun civilian hospital, where he works, had become overcrowded with casualties. |
"Orgun is bleeding. We have got children, men and women injured and dead," he said. | "Orgun is bleeding. We have got children, men and women injured and dead," he said. |
The attack comes hours after two men working for the outgoing president, Hamid Karzai, were killed by a roadside bomb in Kabul. | The attack comes hours after two men working for the outgoing president, Hamid Karzai, were killed by a roadside bomb in Kabul. |
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, which targeted a vehicle carrying employees of the presidential palace to work. | The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, which targeted a vehicle carrying employees of the presidential palace to work. |