Suicide Bomber Kills 17 in Northern Afghanistan

A suicide bomber blew himself up in the middle of a wedding party in Afghanistan’s northern Samangan province Saturday, killing a regional commander and at least another 16 people.

One of those killed in the explosion was commander Ahmad Khan Samangani, a member of parliament who once fought against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and also fought against the Taliban.

An eyewitness, who gave his name only as Hussen, described the attack.

He says he was in the wedding reception hall with arriving guests when there was a loud explosion. He says he fell to the ground, and does not know what happened after that.

The Taliban denied responsibility for the attack, but the group has assassinated minority leaders before.