KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, July 2 (Xinhua) -- At least seven civilians were killed and 23 others injured when a suicide car bomb went off in Kandahar city, the capital of southern Afghan province of Kandahar on Monday evening, the police said.
"Seven civilians were killed and 23 other civilians injured in the suicide car bomb attack in a road near the Kandahar University at around 6:30 p.m. local time," provincial police chief Gen. Abdul Raziq told Xinhua.
The likely target of the attack might have been a minibus carrying a group of Afghan special force members, who were in civilian clothing, from a military compound to their residence, an official told Xinhua anonymously.
There might have been casualties on the security members as the blast also damaged the minibus, the source said, adding the bomber was also killed in the attack.
Meantime, Raziq said the victims were all civilians and the casualties could go higher as several of the injured remain in critical conditions.
Raziq also blamed the Taliban for the attack.
However, Taliban insurgents, who announced it would launch a spring rebel offensive from May 3 against foreign and government security forces, has not make comments yet.
The Taliban insurgent group has warned the civilians to stay away from official gatherings, military convoys and centers regarded as the legitimate targets by militants.
The Taliban carried out a suicide bombing outside the Kandahar city, killing 22 civilians and injuring 50 others on June 6.
Kandahar, the birthplace of Taliban, has seen increasing militancy despite continued military operations there.
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