Suicide attack, bomb blast kill 7, wound 24 Afghans in 2 days

Taliban-linked militancy has claimed the lives of seven people including a suicide bomber and injured two dozen others over the past two days in Afghanistan. In the latest waves of violent incidents, a bomb went off in Mehterlam, the capital city of eastern Laghman province, on Friday, injuring 18 civilians, an official said. "A total of 18 innocent civilians were injured as a sticky bomb blasted a police van in Mehterlam city at 09:15 a.m. local time today," spokesman for the provincial administration Sarhadi Zawak told Xinhua. The victims include 15 men and three women, who were in the city for shopping when the bomb went off, the official said. No police casualty has been caused, he added, blaming the enemies of peace, a term used against Taliban militants by officials, for organizing the attack. Taliban militants are yet to make comment. On Thursday, a suicide bomber blew his explosive-laden car at the entrance gate of Panjshir province in Dalan Sang area, some 60 km north of Kabul, killing himself and six police at the site. "A suicide bomber riding an explosive-borne car blew himself up in Dalan Sang area at 05:00 p.m. local time Thursday, leaving six police dead and a few others injured," a statement of the Interior Ministry said. The bomber was also killed in his blast. The Interior Ministry didn't mention the exact number of those injured in the deadly suicide attack. However, an official on the condition of anonymity said at least six people were injured in the suicide bombing. Taliban militants fighting the government claimed responsibility for the attack and, in a statement posted on their website, insisted that over two dozen people were killed and injured in the suicide attack. Militancy and conflicts get momentum in spring and summer commonly known as the fighting season in Afghanistan.