Rocket attack kills 4, police detain would-be suicide bomber Afghan child

Four civilians have been killed and a Taliban-linked would-be suicide bomber child arrested in militants' former stronghold the southern Helmand province over the past two consecutive days, local officials said Monday. In the first incident which occurred on Saturday afternoon, a rocket fired by Taliban militants struck a civilian car in Gereshk district claiming the lives of four non-combatants, spokesman for provincial government, Omar Zawak confirmed Monday. "The ill-fated civilians including two men and two women were on their way from Gereshk to Sangin district on Saturday afternoon when a rocket fired by Taliban rebels struck their car martyring all the four on the spot," Zawak told Xinhua. He also added that efforts are underway to locate and bring to justice those behind the heinous crime. In the second incident which took place a day later on Sunday also in Helmand province, the personnel of police captured a would- be suicide bomber child and foiled Taliban attempt to conduct suicide attack, a local police officer Hamidullah Sediqi said. "The 10-years old Spoghmai who was attempting to carry out suicide attack against police disguising herself to fetch up water from a stream at nearby police checkpoint Sunday evening was fortunately identified and captured," Hamidullah Sediqi told Xinhua. He also confirmed that Spoghmai's brother Zahir is Taliban local commander and has been fighting against government in the province. Interior minister has also confirmed the arrest of a would-be suicide bomber in the southern Helmand province. "A 10-year child named Spoghmai who was attempting to carry out suicide attack against police force in Khanshin district of Helmand province Sunday evening was identified and arrested," a statement of interior ministry said Monday. During investigation the girl, Spoghmai revealed that her brother named Zahir who is a Taliban fighter had encouraged her to conduct suicide attack; the statement went on to say. Notorious for growing poppy and militancy, Helmand has been regarded as Taliban hotbed in the conflict-hit Afghanistan.