MAZAR-I-SHARIF, Afghanistan, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Pre-mature blast badly injured the mine planter in Afghanistan's northern Mazar-i-Sharif city, the capital of Balkh province on Wednesday, provincial police spokesman Mohammad Asif Waziri said.
"A terrorist was attempting to plant a mine on a road in Police District 4 of Mazar-i-Sharif city to target innocent people but the device exploded prematurely at 11:30 a.m. local time, badly injuring the mine planter," Waziri said.
The security personnel have taken the injured terrorist to a hospital, the official added without providing more details.
In the meantime, a source on the condition of anonymity has confirmed that six injured persons, one in critical condition, had been taken to Avicenna Balkhi hospital in Mazar-i-Sharif city.
No group or individual has claimed responsibility.
The blast took place after the security forces arrested a suspected operative of the hardliner Daesh or Islamic State outfit in the northern Balkh province a day earlier on Tuesday. ■