KANDAHAR: A truck bomb set off by a Taliban suicide attacker targeting senior provincial officials killed at least seven civilians and wounded around 40 in southern Afghanistan, officials said.

The bomber detonated his explosives-rigged truck near a complex that houses the governor, the head of the provincial council and the deputy provincial police chief in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand, Deputy Provincial Governor Mohammad Jan Rasolyar told AFP.

All three survived, but “seven civilian were killed and 41 were wounded in the attack,” he said.

“The attack was targeted at a gathering of senior government officials, civil society members and journalists in a hall for a seminar on human trafficking and kidnapping,” he said.

The wounded, including provincial government spokesman Omar Zhwak, were taken to the hospital.

A senior police officer who declined to be named confirmed the attack and casualties, adding that buildings in the complex were also damaged.

The interior ministry also confirmed the attack in a statement.

The Taliban, who frequently target Afghan government officials and security forces, claimed responsibility for the attack through their official Twitter account.