Car bomb rips through crowd at Afghan wrestling match

LASHKAR GAH (Reuters) - A car bomb killed at least 14 people and wounded dozens more who had gathered to watch a wrestling match in southern Afghanistan on Friday, officials said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, which went off outside the match venue in Lashkar Gah - capital of the province of Helmand - in front of a crowd that included local lawmakers.

Omar Zwak, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said the driver of the car detonated his bomb after he was prevented from entering the venue. He said at least 14 people had been killed and at least 47 wounded. The casualties included children.

Italian aid group Emergency, which runs a major trauma hospital in the city, said 35 wounded had been brought in as well as four who were dead on arrival.

The blast occurred as Afghans were celebrating the victory of their national cricket team in a match that qualified them for next year’s World Cup.