Afghan officials: blast kills 9 people on way to wedding

KABUL – Afghan officials say a roadside blast has killed at least nine civilians on their way to a wedding in the northern Faryab province.

Javed Dedar, a spokesman for the provincial governor, says the roadside explosion killed 11 people and wounded 12 others on Thursday, among them women and children. He says it is unclear if the civilians, who were travelling to a wedding, hit a roadside mine or were targeted by mortar fire. Dedar says the bride was wounded.

Lawmaker Ahmad Tahyanj says nine people were killed and 11 were wounded in the blast, which took place at 2 p.m.

Mohammad Tahir Rahmani of the Faryab provincial council puts the toll at 10 people killed, nine wounded.

The blast occurred in a remote area, making it difficult to verify details.