Police say 17 people killed by bomb in bicycle in southern Afghanistan

17 reported dead in south Afghan blast

KABUL — Police say a bomb concealed on a bicycle has killed 17 people in southern Afghanistan.

Another 15 people were injured in the blast Wednesday in the district of Nasri Sarraj just north of Lashkar Gah in Helmand province. That’s according to Kamaluddin, the deputy provincial police chief who uses only one name.

Provincial government spokesman Daoud Ahmadi said people had gathered in the area to receive free seeds from the government as part of a program to encourage them not to plant opium poppy.