A devastating suicide bombing outside a bank in Kandahar, Afghanistan, has claimed the lives of at least 21 people, with numerous others sustaining injuries, according to reports from BBC citing a doctor at the regional hospital.
Contrary to the higher casualty count, local police have stated that three people were killed and 12 injured in the blast.
The attack targeted civilians who had gathered at the bank, presumably to withdraw money, as confirmed by the Kandahar police department. It's reported that the victims were primarily civilians.
Victims of the blast, including about 50 injured individuals, were rushed to Mirwais Hospital, the largest medical facility in the region, as disclosed by a hospital doctor speaking anonymously to BBC.
Kandahar, situated in the southern province of the same name and known as the birthplace of the Taliban, is home to Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. Taliban authorities swiftly cordoned off the area outside the bank, restricting access to journalists.
Eyewitnesses observed ambulances transporting unconscious or deceased individuals away from the scene, amid efforts by firefighters and security personnel to clear the area strewn with blood, torn clothing, and shoes.
Requests for information from hospitals regarding the incident went unanswered, with authorities reportedly instructing them not to communicate with the media.
While the frequency of bomb blasts and suicide attacks in Afghanistan had decreased significantly after the Taliban's assumption of power in August 2021, following the US-backed government's ousting, various armed groups, including regional branches of ISIS, continue to pose threats.
Although multiple explosions have been reported across Afghanistan since the onset of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on March 11, the Taliban has confirmed few of these incidents.
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