JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- An Afghan army soldier and an attack were killed in a suicide bomb blast in Jalalabad, an eastern town in Afghanistan on Sunday, a local official said.
The incident occurred roughly at 6:45 p.m. local time near a security checkpoint at a square in Pul-e-Behsood neighborhood, after an army soldier identified and intercepted a suicide bomber approaching the busy area, Attaullah Khogyani, governor spokesman tweeted.
"The brave soldier named Mohammad Omar hugged the young attacker to prevent casualties in the crowded traffic circle," he said.
Earlier, a witness told Xinhua that the blast was a car bomb blast as the explosion caused a big bang and panic among the residents.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack in the city, which is the capital of eastern Nangarhar province. Militants of Taliban and the Islamic States (IS) are active in the province.
Jalalabad has been the scene of frequent terrorist attacks this year.
On Tuesday, 18 people were killed and 15 others wounded after IS gunmen and suicide bombers attacked a refugees and repatriation department in the city.
