Afghan suicide bomber kills 25, injures 30

5 Sep 2012, 7:15 am   -   Source: AAP
At least 25 people are dead and 30 wounded following a suicide bombing at a funeral in Afghanistan. (AAP)

At least 25 people are dead and 30 wounded following a suicide bombing at a funeral in Afghanistan. (AAP)

At least 25 civilians are dead and 30 wounded following a suicide bombing at a funeral in Afghanistan.

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A suicide bomber has killed at least 25 civilians and wounded another 30 at a funeral for a village elder in a remote part of eastern Afghanistan, Afghan officials say.

Ahmad Zia Abdul Zai, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said the attack took place on Tuesday in the village of Shagai in the Durbaba district of eastern Nangarhar province. He and other officials said at least 25 people were killed.

Initial reports had at least 10 civilians killed. Zai and police later said more than a dozen people died of their injuries.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but there has been fighting against Taliban and other insurgents in the mountainous region located just across the border from some of Pakistan's lawless tribal areas.

Latifullah, the police chief's secretary who goes by one name, said the target was apparently Durbaba district chief Hamisha Gul, who was attending the funeral for the village chief and ranking elder.

Gul survived the attack, said deputy police chief for Nangarhar province, Jamil Shamal, but his son was killed when he tried to stop the bomber by grabbing him.

The Taliban often target government officials at public functions, including funerals and weddings.

Civilians are often the victims of suicide attacks. On August 14, dozens of people were killed in suicide attacks in northern and southern Afghanistan.

A recent UN report said 1145 civilians were killed and 1954 others injured during the first half of the year, 80 per cent of them by militants.

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