2nd LD Writethru: 2 killed in bomb attack on sport fans in Afghanistan

Two persons were killed and five others wounded Friday evening after a bomb struck the ground of Buzkashi, a national game, in the Afghanistan's northern province of Balkh, provincial police spokesman said.

"The initial information found two persons were killed and five others wounded after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was detonated at a Buzkashi ground in Khulm District. The causalities were shifted to a hospital in provincial capital of Mazar-i-Sharif city," spokesman Shir Jan Durrani told Xinhua.

The incident took place at around 4:30 p.m. local time, and police launched an investigation into the case, he added.

Meantime, witnesses said that the target of the attack was a pro-government local leader named Zamari, who has been killed in the blast.

The injured did not suffer life-threatening wounds, they said.

So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the Taliban outfit routinely claim responsibility for such attacks.

Being playing in a big area, the Buzkashi or goat grabbing is Afghanistan's national sport game in which several horse riders compete to grab the carcass of goat or calf and put it inside the circle on the playing field. Endit