Helmand governor’s office said in a statement late Saturday that six people were killed in a suicide bombing in Lashkargah city earlier in the day. 

Earlier reports however, indicated that 11 people were killed. 

In their statement the governor’s office said five security force members and one child were killed.  

In addition 15 people were wounded. This included six security force members, four women and three children, their statement read.  

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.  

The governor’s office says in its statement the attack was carried out in a busy area of the city. 

However, public health officials earlier put the death toll at 11 and said 21 people had been wounded. 

The incident took place shortly after 2pm local time. 

The provincial governor’s spokesman Omar Zwak confirmed a suicide bomber detonated an explosive-laden vehicle near the Kabul Bank branch. 

Officials said the target had been a security forces convoy.

Following the incident, President Ashraf Ghani in a statement condemned the attack and called it a barbaric and an inhumane act.

He said the country’s enemies will not reach their “nefarious ends by creating violence and killing the Afghan people.”

Ghani also sent his condolences to the families of the victims and wished the injured a swift recovery.