Taliban suicide attack in Afghanistan kills 6

 Six people were killed, including the attacker, and 40 were wounded when the Taliban detonated a vehicle loaded with explosives near a police barrack in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday.

The blast occurred at 11 a.m. near the entrance to the police headquarters in Lashkargah, capital of Helmand province, a police official was quoted as saying by Efe news.

"The bomber detonated his vehicle near the main entrance of the Police Headquarters, which is also used as a parking lot by civilians," said the offical, adding that the victims included two women, a girl, two Army soldiers and the attacker.

The wounded included three soldiers while the remaining were civilians. More than half of the injured were students at a nearby madrasa, the police official said.

"An attack was carried out near the Helmand Police Headquarters against the puppet enemy. Three armoured vehicles were destroyed and several soldiers were killed," Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said on Twitter.

The attack comes after US President Donald Trump on Monday announced an open-ended expansion of its involvement in the Afghan conflict, including raising troop deployment. - IANS