Afghanistan: 6 people dead including attacker in minibus explosion

At least six people were killed in Afghanistan's Kandahar on Tuesday after a bomb kept in a minibus exploded near a security checkpoint. The attacker too died in the incident.

Thirty people, including several children, were also reportedly injured in the blast which occurred in the city's main market.

The injured have been rushed to the nearest hospital and the area has been cordoned off by security officials.

The official number of the casualties could increase as news agency Reuters reported that more injured people are arriving at the hospital.

The minibus packed with explosives was discovered by the security officials at the securoty checkpoint. The terrorist driving the van, detonated his vehicle even before the security forces could even defuse the explosives.

So far no one has claimed the responsibility for the attack.

Over the past few months Afghanistan has seen several explosions in which hundreds of people have been killed and injured.

Apart from Kabul many other provincial cities have also been hit by such incidents as the Taliban, seeking to reimpose hardline Islamic rule, have stepped up fighting across the country ahead of the polls.

Kandahar province, on the border with Pakistan, is a major centre of opium cultivation and a stronghold of the Taliban but the city itself has recently been relatively secure.

(With inputs from Reuters)