33 killed in Afghan motorcycle suicide attack

Explosion targeted government workers and military personnel queuing to collect their salaries

The aftermath of a prior suicide bombing in Afghanistan. (File photo)
The aftermath of a prior suicide bombing in Afghanistan. (File photo)

A suicide bomber riding a motorbike has killed 33 and injured 100 in an attack in the city of Jalalabad in eastern Afghanistan.

Nangarhar province chief of police, Fazel Ahmad Sherzad confirmed the cause of the explosion, which took place outside a bank, while government workers and military personnel were waiting to collect their salaries outside.

Another bomb was reportedly discovered nearby, and had been destroyed in a controlled explosion.

A second blast was also reported outside a shrine in Jalalabad earlier today but there were no reports of casualties.

Nobody has come forward to claim responsibility for the attacks, a Taliban spokesman having denied the group’s involvement.

The attack comes only eight days after three civilians died in  Taliban attack on a NATO convoy near Jalalabad airport on April 10

NATO troops have largely withdrawn from the country after the organisation ended its combat role there in December. A few thousand soldiers, however remain in training and advisory roles.