Afghanistan: Two killed, 15 wounded in blast in crowded market in Mazar-i-Sharif

In February, three people were killed in an attack on a bus carrying military personnel not far from Mazar-i-Sharif, and in January, militants attacked the Indian consulate in the city.

At least two people were killed and 15 wounded in a bomb blast in a crowded market of Mazar-i-Sharif city in north Afghanistan on Tuesday, police officials said.

Afghan policemen investigate at the site of attack after a suicide bomber detonated himself in a crowd at the Mandawi bazaar in Mazar-i-sharif on Tuesday. (AFP)

Mazar-i-Sharif, an important commercial centre near the border with Uzbekistan, has generally been spared the violence unleashed by insurgent groups battling the Nato-backed government in Kabul.

The attack on Tuesday was carried out by a suicide bomber, said police commander Baba Jan. “The bomber detonated his explosives in the main market and all the victims are civilians,” he said.

The ministry of interior, however, reported that a bomb had been hidden in a cart.

In February, three people were killed in an attack on a bus carrying military personnel not far from Mazar-i-Sharif, and in January, militants attacked the Indian consulate in the city.