KABUL — A roadside bomb targeting a district police chief killed three civilians in northern Afghanistan on Saturday when it blew up their vehicle, an official said. Meanwhile, security forces foiled a would-be suicide attack on the vice president during a traditional horse-riding event. The roadside bomb in Kunduz province killed the district police chief's son, brother and driver, provincial governor spokesman Abdul Wasi Basil said. The police official and another son were wounded in the blast in Imam Sahib district. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. Roadside bombs have been a weapon of choice for Taliban insurgents for many years, and are often used to target officials and members of the security forces. Police bear the brunt of the attacks because they don't have the protection of bases and are less-equipped than the army. In northern Zawzjan province, security forces arrested Gul Ahmad, 20, at a buzkashi match where he planned to attack Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum, Afghanistan's first vice president, Dostrum's spokesman Sultan Faizy said. Buzkashi is the national sport of Afghanistan and involves players on horseback dragging a goat carcass toward a goal. Ahmad had explosives hidden under his saddle and was also armed with a pistol and two extra magazines, Faizy said. Also on Saturday, a suicide car bomber targeted a patrol of intelligence service troops in eastern Nangarhar province. Five people were wounded, including two civilians, said Ahmad Zia Abdulzai, spokesman for the provincial governor. — AP
