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Deadly car bomb targets Afghan bank Afghan car bomb hits New Kabul Bank in Helmand
(35 minutes later)
At least 20 people have been killed and dozens wounded in a car bomb explosion outside a bank in the southern Afghan province of Helmand, officials say.At least 20 people have been killed and dozens wounded in a car bomb explosion outside a bank in the southern Afghan province of Helmand, officials say.
Armed attackers have entered the bank and a gun battle is going on with security forces, Tolo News reports. Police told the BBC the bomb detonated at the gate of the New Kabul Bank branch in Lashkar Gah.
Civilians and members of the security forces are reportedly among casualties.Civilians and members of the security forces are reportedly among casualties.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Taliban and Islamic State militants have carried out many deadly attacks in recent months. There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Taliban and Islamic State militants have carried out deadly attacks in recent months.
Helmand police spokesman Salam Afghan told BBC that the bomber had detonated his explosives at the gate of the new Kabul Bank branch. The emergency hospital in Helmand confirmed that 20 bodies and 50 injured people had been transported there.
The emergency hospital in Helmand also confirmed that 20 bodies and 50 injured had been shifted to the hospital. The wounded are still being admitted, BBC Afghan reports. Earlier, Tolo News reported that armed attackers had entered the bank and engaged in a gun battle with security forces.
"It happened at a time when civilians and officials had lined up outside the bank to collect their salaries," a police spokesman, Salam Afghan, told AFP news agency.
Bank buildings have been repeatedly attacked in recent years in Afghanistan as civilians and military personnel receive their monthly salaries from them.
There has been a series of attacks in Afghanistan in recent weeks, since the Taliban launched its so-called spring offensive.
On Sunday, five police officers were killed and about 30 people, most of them civilians, injured in a suicide bomb attack in the eastern city of Gardez.
On 31 May a huge bombing in central Kabul killed more than 150 people, the deadliest militant attack in the country since US-led forces ousted the Taliban from power in 2001.
Earlier that month another New Kabul Bank branch was attacked in Gardez, killing at least three people.
The insurgents control swathes of Helmand province, whose capital is Lashkar Gah.
In March the crucial district of Sangin fell to the militants after a year-long battle. Musa Qala was captured last year.