Afghan Bomb Attack Injures Prosecutor, Civilians

JALALABAD, Afghanistan -- A powerful blast has wounded 16 people in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad.

The bombing on August 4 followed a deadly suicide attack on the Indian Consulate in the same city the day before.

Local security official Maasum Khan Hashemi said the bomb went off in central Jalalabad as a vehicle passed carrying state prosecutor Abdul Qayum.

Hashemi told RFE/RL that the prosecutor, three of his bodyguards, and 12 civilians were injured in the attack.

He said there were women and children among the wounded.

The attack on the Indian Consulate in Jalalabad on August 3 killed nine civilians.

No group has claimed responsibility for either attack.

Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar Province, is situated on the key route between the Pakistani border region and Afghan capital, Kabul.