“A suicide bomber using a car detonated explosives near a branch of Kabul bank in Lashkargah city,’’ Omar Zwak added.

Emergency hospital director Dejan Panic said the hospital has so far received 12 patients, including a woman and a child, with two of them critically injured.

Mohammad Karim Atal, the head of the Helmand provincial council, reported at least 23 casualties, including some people killed.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.