Afghan wedding suicide attack kills prominent MP

The attacker embraced MP Ahmad Khan, a former militia commander, in front of wedding guests before detonating the explosives strapped around his waist, a security forces spokesman said.

The head of local intelligence was also among the dead after the attack on the party in Aybak, the capital of normally peaceful Samangan province, which was attended by other high-ranking government officials.

An ethnic Uzbek, Khan had served as a commander during the decades of conflict in Afghanistan.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. Zabiullah Mujahid, a purported Taliban spokesman, said that he was “unaware” of an attack by the group in northern Afghanistan.

More than 13 bodies had been brought to the central hospital in Samangan, as well as 60 wounded people, hospital head doctor Mansor Fayez said.

“The dead include MP Ahmad Khan and the head of intelligence of Samangan,” he said.

The security force spokesman, Lal Mohammad Ahmadzai, put the toll higher.

“So far we have 22 people, including Ahmad Khan killed, and more than 100 others wounded,” he said.