KANDAHAR: A Taliban suicide attacker driving an explosives-laden van carrying goats killed eight 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.

“Eight people, including five civilians, two soldiers and one police were killed in the attack,” provincial spokesman Omar Zhwak said.

Among the civilians, a man, a woman and three children were killed, he added.

Zhwak had earlier said nine people were killed, but later lowered the death toll. Provincial police chief Nabi Jan Mullahkhil confirmed the attack and said 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,” he said. Seven soldiers and one civilian were wounded in the attack, he said.

Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2015

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