TALUQAN, Afghanistan, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- A dozen people were killed and 32 others injured after a blast ripped through an election gathering in Afghanistan's northern Takhar province on Saturday, provincial police spokesman Mohammad Jawad Hajari said.
"Female parliamentary candidate Nazifa Big Yusufi was busy in election campaign when a blast occurred among her supporters at around 1:30 p.m. local time, killing 12 persons on the spot and injuring 32 others," Hajari told Xinhua.
The explosive device might had been placed in a motorbike, he said, adding an investigation has been initiated into the incident.
However, locals said the blast "was probably a suicide bombing" killing a dozen people on the spot.
No group has claimed responsibility for the deadly attack.
The elections for Wolesi Jirga, or lower house of the Afghan parliament, are slated for Oct. 20 with more than 2,500 candidates vying for the chamber's 249 seats.
