Xinhua, April 15, 2010

Huge explosion rocks Kandahar in S. Afghanistan, killing at least 11

Daud Farhad, a doctor with the Mirwais Hospital, told Xinhua that 18 injured were sent to the hospital for treatment, including three foreigners

U.S. soldiers are seen at the site of a blast in Kandahar April 15, 2010. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

A huge explosion took place in Kandahar city in southern Afghanistan late Thursday, killing at least 11 people and injuring 18 others.

Xinhua's reporter saw military helicopters hovering over the bombing site, which is located at the city's business center called Aljadid Market.

A police official who insisted on anonymity told Xinhua that it was a suicide car bombing attack.

A car loaded with explosives rammed into a compound of a private security company and detonated the car, said the police official, adding that the fire caused by the blast went off soon.

The official said 11 people killed in the incident included seven foreign nationals with the company, three Afghan security guards and the attacker.

Daud Farhad, a doctor with the Mirwais Hospital, told Xinhua that 18 injured were sent to the hospital for treatment, including three foreigners.

It was the third blast took place in the restive city of Kandahar within one day. The previous two explosions claimed five lives and injured 14.

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