At least 40 injured in Afghan suicide bomb blast

KABUL, Afghanistan A suicide attacker detonated a car laden with explosives Friday in eastern Afghanistan, injuring at least 40 people, officials said.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the bombing, saying in a statement that the attack was in response to the recent execution of four Taliban detainees at the Afghan government's mai

The men were convicted and sentenced to death in Afghan courts for a variety of crimes, including murder, rape, kidnapping, robbery and cruelty against children. The Taliban condemned the hangings, saying the detainees were prisoners of war who were unjustly jailed.

Shahidullah Shahid, a spokesman for Wardak province, said the blast went off shortly before 7:30 a.m. on a street where international and Afghan security forces have a coordination office. He said at least 40 people were wounded, some with possibly life-threatening injuries.

According to the provincial governor spokesman, the explosives laden truck detonated in an open field and might have been destined to target military installations or government offices in town. A similar truck bomb last year near a US military base in the same province caused heavy damage to the base and injured over 80 US military personnel.

The Taliban said two suicide attackers were involved in the attack in Maidan Shahr, the capital of Wardak province. The insurgent group claimed the two attackers killed tens of Afghan and international troops, although the Taliban often exaggerate the number of casualties caused in their attacks.

Afghan and international forces have been working to root out insurgents in Wardak province to keep them from moving north into the Afghan capital. The international forces are scheduled to turn over security responsibility to local troops by the end of 2014.
Source http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57553549/at-least-40-injured-in-afghan-suicide-bomb-blast/