Suicide attacks kill 18 in Afghanistan

By Masoud Popalzai, CNN

April 10, 2012 -- Updated 1219 GMT (2019 HKT)

Deadly blasts rock Afghanistan

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• The two attacks on government facilities wounded 27 others, authorities say
• Many of the dead were police officers, officials say
• Fourteen people were killed in Herat province attack, four in Helmand province

Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Suicide attacks on government facilities in western and southern Afghanistan Tuesday killed at least 18 people and wounded 27 others, authorities said.

Many of the dead were police officers.

The first attack took place outside the administrator's office in the Guzara district of western Herat province when a pair of suicide bombers in an SUV tried to enter the compound, according to Saeed Agha Saqib, the provincial police chief.

The bombers detonated their explosives when security forces wouldn't let them through.

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The blast killed 14 people, including three police officers, and wounded 22 others, Saqib said.

In southern Helmand province, a trio of suicide bombers attacked the office of the police chief of Musa Qala district, according to Dawood Ahmadi, a spokesman for Helmand's governor.

Two of the bombers were able to blow themselves up. The third was killed by police.

That attack killed four police officers and wounded five people, including the police chief, Ahmadi said.

CNN's Mitra Mobasherat contributed to this report.

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