Car bomb attack kills eight in Afghanistan

A local governor was unhurt but eight of his security team have died after a Taliban-backed car bomb in Afghanistan.

A car bomb attack on a convoy of the governor of Afghanistan's southern Logar province has killed at least eight Afghan security force members, but left the provincial chief unharmed.

Shahpoor Ahmadzai, the spokesman for Logar's provincial police, said the bomber detonated an explosives-packed car close to the governor's convoy on a major highway between Logar and the capital Kabul.

"Unfortunately 10 others are wounded, and the number of casualties may rise," Ahmadzai said.

Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban, said in a statement that the group was responsible for the blast.

Logar, located around 75 kms from Kabul, is known as a strategic gateway to the capital and is vulnerable to attacks due to the Taliban's active presence in most areas of the province.

The militant group have ramped up attacks in strategic provinces in recent months in their battle to expel foreign forces, topple the Western-backed government and restore their version of hardline Islamic law.