AKIPRESS.COM - A suicide bomber riding a rickshaw blew himself up outside a checkpoint at a market in northern Afghanistan on Tuesday, killing 15 people, officials said.

The attack occurred in the capital of Faryab province. The attacker was approaching the checkpoint at the entry of the market in Maymana, the capital of Faryab province, when he detonated his explosives, which were hidden in the rickshaw. Provincial Governor Mohammadullah Patash gave the death toll and said 27 people also were wounded in the attack.

"The blast happened on the main roundabout, which was very crowded. The bomber used a three-wheeler packed with explosives. All 15 of the dead are civilians or street vendors, and at least 27 are also wounded," said Governor Mohammadullah Patash.

Toryalai Adyan, the provincial police chief, and hospital officials gave a similar account and death toll, Reuters reported.