KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- At least 20 people were killed Monday in a suicide bombing in southern Afghanistan, local officials said.
Initial reports stated between three and six people were killed, though that number has increased steadily throughout the day. Nearly 40 were injured.
Kandahar province Gov. Assadullah Khalid told reporters a suicide attacker on a motorcycle rushed into a crowd of people who were celebrating Eid festival and exploded himself.
In recent months, Taliban militants have used suicide bombers with greater frequency, which some attributed to the influence of al-Qaida in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, another suicide bomber killed five people in the city of Kandahar and injured 18 others.
The attacks came a day after a suicide bomber drove into a Canadian military convoy in Kandahar. The blast killed Canadian diplomat Glyn Berry and two Afghan civilians. Thirteen others were injured, including three Canadian soldiers.
The three were airlifted to a military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported.
