2 explosions rock southern Afghan city of Kandahar, killing 8 and wounding many others

2 explosions rock southern Afghan city, killing 8

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — Two explosions rocked Kandahar on Tuesday, the second night of deadly explosions in the southern Afghan city where U.S. and Afghan forces are ramping up operations in areas long held by the Taliban.

At least eight people were killed and another 22 were wounded by a car bomb and a second, smaller blast in the city, said Zelmai Ayubi, spokesman for the provincial governor of Kandahar. The target of the explosions remains unclear, but he says Afghan police were among those wounded.

On Monday night, three explosions, just minutes apart, killed four Afghan police officers in Kandahar. Also Monday, a former district chief, Habibullah Aghonzada, was gunned down by assailants as he prayed at a packed mosque.

Ayubi said the first explosion Monday night targeted an Afghan police office. When police gathered to tend to the wounded, two more explosions occurred, he said.

Control of Kandahar, the Taliban movement’s birthplace, is seen as key to the Afghan conflict. Afghan and NATO forces are engaged in a major operation to push militants out of strongholds there.