Roadside bomb blast kills 7 civilians in southern Afghanistan

Seven civilians were killed when a van hit a roadside bomb in the southern Helmand province. Omar Zwak, spokesman for the provincial capital, said 10 individuals were inside the van, but added the exact number of those killed cannot be immediately established. Police spokesman Abdul Salam Afghan confirmed the blast and casualties. No group has claimed credit for the blast, but it is known the Taliban has a strong presence in the area.