Deadly attacks in southern Afghanistan

At least six people killed and 30 wounded in checkpoint explosion in Kandahar and suicide attack in neighbouring Zabul.

Afghanistan
Along with the bank building, several small shops and vehicles were also damaged in the deadly attack [Reuters]

At least six people have been killed and 30 others wounded in two attacks in southern Afghanistan, according to local authorities.

An explosion took place on Saturday morning at a checkpoint near a branch of the New Kabul Bank in Kandahar, Javed Faisal, a provincial spokesman, said.

He said the suicide bomber was in a car that was being searched by police, but later said new information indicated the bomber had been on foot.

The official said four of the dead were civilians, one a police officer and one a private security guard.

Along with the branch building of the New Kabul Bank, several small shops and vehicles were damaged.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing.

Separately, six civilians were wounded in a suicide attack on a police station in the city of Qalat, in Zabul province in southern Afghanistan. Three police officers were also hurt in the attack.

And a NATO service member was killed by rebels in the country’s east, according to a military statement.

The NATO service member died in “a direct fire attack by enemy forces in eastern Afghanistan”‘ on Saturday, according to a statement from the military alliance.

The statement did not give any further details on the person killed.