At least eight killed, over dozen injured in Jalalabad suicide attack

Islamic State claims responsibility for the deadly attack in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar

JALALABAD: A suicide bomber struck in a crowd of people in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar on Thursday killing at least eight, officials said, in an attack that underscored worsening security.

The bomber approached the crowd of dozens on foot in provincial capital Jalalabad as they were demonstrating in support of a local police commander who had been sacked and calling for his reinstatement, provincial spokesman Attaullah Khogyani said.

"Unfortunately, eight people were killed, all of them civilians," he said.

A further 15 people including children were wounded in the explosion, he added.



The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement.

Provincial health director Najib Kamawal confirmed the toll and said some of those wounded were in a serious condition.

Both IS and the Taliban are active in Nangarhar province.

Afghan and US officials have stepped up their attacks against IS and recently said it is steadily losing territory, with fighters largely confined to two or three districts in Nangarhar from around nine in January.

But the group has intensified attacks across the country, particularly in the east and in the capital Kabul, recruiting followers and in some places challenging the Taliban on its own turf.