8 civilians killed in roadside bombing northwest of Afghan capital

KABUL – A militant detonated a remote-control bomb Tuesday morning, killing at least eight Afghan civilians who were travelling in a bus just northwest of the Afghan capital, police said.

The bomb was placed under a bridge and was detonated when the bus travelled over the span, said Mohammad Zahir, the criminal director for Kabul police.

Five other people were wounded in the bombing, which occurred at around 7 a.m. in Paghman district of Kabul province as Afghans were making their way to work.

“The person who pushed the button on the remote-controlled bomb was captured by villagers who saw him running,” said Abdul Razaq, an Afghan police official in the Kabul area.

Initial reports were that the bus was ferrying government employees to an Afghan ministry, but those reports could not be confirmed.

Police speculated that the bomber might have been targeting a bus full of government workers, but blew up a civilian bus by mistake.