At least 15 police force members and five civilians lost their lives in a militant attack in Andar district in Ghazni province late on Monday night, local officials Tuesday.

Ghazni Governor Abdul Karim Matin said a Humvee full of explosives was used in the attack which was detonated in front of Andar district council building.

After the explosion dozens of militants attacked the district council building, he said, adding that 24 policemen and more than 10 civilians were wounded in the attack.

“Dozens of Taliban fighters attacked the (Andar) district building after they detonated an explosives-laden vehicle in the area on Monday night. Soldiers and civilians suffered heavy casualties in this attack,” he said.  

The governor said Taliban also suffered heavy losses in the attack.

“Taliban also suffered heavy losses in fight against security forces. It is said that even they were carrying their dead bodies by car, but there is no exact figure about their causalities,” Matin added.

Senior deputy minister of interior General Murad Ali Murad also confirmed the incident. 

“Fifteen police force members and five civilians were martyred in the explosion of a explosives-laden vehicle (in Ghazni). Twenty two police force members and 16 civilians were wounded. A number of those injured are critical,” said Murad.

The Presidential Palace condemned the attack in a press statement on Tuesday.