Six policemen killed in suicide bombing in Afghanistan

At least six police personnel were killed and a number of civilians wounded Thursday in a suicide bombing in the eastern Afghan province of Panjshir, the country's interior ministry said.

"One suicide bomber detonated his explosives-laden sedan at a security checkpoint in Dalan Sang, the main entrance of the Panjshir province at around 5:00 p.m., leaving six police officers dead," Xinhua reported citing a ministry statement.

Several civilians were wounded in the blast. The injured were shifted to hospitals, it added.

Security forces cordoned off the area after the blast.

Zabihullah Mujahid, a purported Taliban spokesman, claimed responsibility for the attack.