At least three civilians and a security force member were killed in a car bomb blast in the northern province of Balkh on Wednesday night, district governor Jalil Qarizada said. 

Adil Shah Adil, a spokesman for the provincial police chief, said that the security force members prevented the car bomber from reaching the headquarters building.

“The security forces identified the car bomber and stopped it (with gunfire) 50 meters from the police HQ,” Adil said. “Some parts of the police HQ building were damaged but mostly the civilians’ houses were damaged in the blast.” 

The Taliban has not yet commented on the blast.