A car bomb has exploded at the entrance of a sports stadium in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Afghanistan's southwestern province of Helmand, killing at least 13 people and injuring dozens as they were leaving a wrestling match.
Aminullah Abed, the head of the province's public health department, said at least 40 were injured -- with six in critical condition. He said the bodies of many of those who were killed had been burnt beyond recognition.
Omar Zawak, a spokesman for Helmand's provincial governor, told RFE/RL’s Radio Free Afghanistan that the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber who drove an explosives-laden car into a crowd of people as they were passing through the entrance gate of the sports facility on March 23.
Zawak said at least 14 people were killed and 45 were injured.
Provincial police chief Abdul Ghafar Safi said the target of the attack was civilians. He said no high-ranking officials were present or hurt at the stadium.
The attack occurred after Afghan new year celebrations were winding down.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.