Van bomb kills nine in southern Afghanistan

KANDAHAR: A suicide attacker driving an explosives-laden van carrying goats killed nine people including five civilians in southern Afghanistan on Tuesday, officials said. The attacker targeted a joint Afghan army and police base in the Sangin district of the volatile southern province of Helmand. “Nine people, including five civilians, two soldiers and two police were killed in the attack,” provincial spokesman Omar Zhwak told AFP. Provincial police chief Nabi Jan Mullahkhil confirmed the attack and told AFP it was carried out by a van carrying goats. “The van tried to enter the base, but detonated at the entrance after the guards stopped it.”