Car bombing claims two lives in eastern Afghanistan

At least two people have lost their lives in a car bomb blast outside a government office in Afghanistan’s troubled eastern province of Logar.

According to Afghan officials, the explosion, blamed on the Taliban militants, took place early on Thursday in front of the provincial governor’s compound in the Charkh district, 60 km east of the country’s capital, Kabul.

Reports said the massive blast shook buildings in the area.

Salim Khan Saleh, the provincial spokesman, said several gunmen first detonated explosives on a vehicle close to the building and then started clashing with the Afghan security forces.

He said the assailants entered another building close to the district governor’s compound and took positions, exchanging fire with police deployed to the area.

The Taliban have intensified their attacks across Afghanistan over the past months. In one of the deadliest attacks, at least 80 civilians lost their lives in a blast that targeted a rally in Kabul in late July.

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