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At least six dead in suicide blast at Afghan wedding

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AFP Jalalabad(Afghanistan)
Last Updated : Jul 12 2019 | 9:26 PM IST

At least six people were killed and 14 wounded Friday when a suicide bomber attacked a wedding ceremony in eastern Afghanistan, an official told AFP.

The Islamic State group's Afghanistan affiliate later claimed responsibility for the bombing in Nangarhar province close to the Pakistan border, where a host of insurgent organisations operate.

"This morning at 8:00 am (0330 GMT), a suicide bomber detonated himself at a wedding ceremony ... in Pachiragam district," Attaullah Khogyani, the Nangarhar governor's spokesman, told AFP.

He said six people had been killed and 14 wounded, a change from an earlier toll of five dead and 40 wounded.

"All the villagers were gathered for a wedding ceremony," said witness Saleem Jan, who was himself a guest and who was wounded in the blast.

Speaking to AFP from hospital, he described confusion as the bomb exploded and people began running.

"I didn't know what happened," he said. "When I turned my face I saw dozens of people were wounded, lying on the ground."

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First Published: Jul 12 2019 | 9:26 PM IST

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