At least 11 killed in east Afghanistan blast: officials

Nearly a dozen confirmed dead in eastern Afghanistan blast.

1 min read

18 December, 2020

The explosions took place during a religious ceremony [Getty]

A motorbike loaded with explosives blew up in east Afghanistan on Friday, killing at least 11 people who had gathered at a religious ceremony, officials said.

"The explosives detonated at a gathering in Gilan district of Ghazni province," said provincial governor's spokesman Waheedullah Jumazada, adding that at least 11 people were killed and 20 wounded.

He said the wounded included children.

Interior ministry spokesman Tariq Arian confirmed the blast but said 15 people were killed.

The spokesman said the explosives were loaded on a motorbike parked near a house in a village where the ceremony was being held.

Taliban and government forces have regularly clashed in Ghazni.

Thirty security personnel were killed last month when a suicide car bomber struck an Afghan army base near Ghazni city, the provincial capital.

The latest violence comes as the Taliban and Afghan government engage in peace talks to end the country's grinding war.

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