Police chief among dead in bomb blast

Eleven people, including civilians were injured in the attack which underscored the tenuous security situation in Afghanistan as US troops prepare to pull out by the end of next year.

The bomber struck in the Dashi Archi district of Kunduz province. Afghanistan’s north is generally considered one of the safer parts of the country but in recent years it has seen increasing militant activity.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for yesterday morning’s attack, though suspicion is likely to fall on the Afghan Taliban, who have been behind many assassinations in the country.

District chief Sayed Sadruddin was the suicide bomber’s apparent target, a police spokesman said.

The Afghan official was with tribal leaders and others at a memorial service for someone who had died earlier, the spokesman said.