<p>At least three people were killed and about 20 children wounded when a Taliban truck bomb detonated near a rural police station and partially destroyed a nearby religious school, Afghan officials said.</p>.<p>The early morning attack happened in Alishing district in eastern Laghman province, said interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi.</p>.<p>"Three people including two security forces were killed and 27 were wounded," he added.</p>.<p>According to Asadullah Daulatzai, spokesman for the provincial governor, the bomb exploded outside a police station and severely damaged a nearby madrassa, or religious school.</p>.<p>"The students were wounded by flying glass," he said, adding about 20 students were hurt.</p>.<p>Ezatullah, an injured 10-year-old, said the blast was "huge and loud".</p>.<p>"I was in class with my friends reciting the Koran when we saw a red truck rushing toward us. For a moment everything went dark, and when I woke up I found myself in the hospital," he told AFP.</p>.<p>Six police officers were wounded in the attack.</p>.<p>The Taliban later claimed responsibility for the blast in a statement sent to media, saying the bomb killed dozens of Afghan security forces.</p>.<p>As the violence worsens, its impact on the children has been disproportionate across war-torn Afghanistan.</p>.<p>According to the UN Children's Fund the number of attacks against Afghan schools tripled last year compared to 2017.</p>.<p>By the end of 2018, more than 1,000 Afghan schools had been shut due to conflict.</p>.<p>The attack in Laghman comes a day after a helicopter crash in northern Balkh province killed at least seven Afghan military personnel, officials said.</p>.<p>Afghanistan is currently awaiting the results of the first round of presidential voting, which took place last month.</p>.<p>Polling was marred by several small-scale attacks claimed by the Taliban.</p>
<p>At least three people were killed and about 20 children wounded when a Taliban truck bomb detonated near a rural police station and partially destroyed a nearby religious school, Afghan officials said.</p>.<p>The early morning attack happened in Alishing district in eastern Laghman province, said interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi.</p>.<p>"Three people including two security forces were killed and 27 were wounded," he added.</p>.<p>According to Asadullah Daulatzai, spokesman for the provincial governor, the bomb exploded outside a police station and severely damaged a nearby madrassa, or religious school.</p>.<p>"The students were wounded by flying glass," he said, adding about 20 students were hurt.</p>.<p>Ezatullah, an injured 10-year-old, said the blast was "huge and loud".</p>.<p>"I was in class with my friends reciting the Koran when we saw a red truck rushing toward us. For a moment everything went dark, and when I woke up I found myself in the hospital," he told AFP.</p>.<p>Six police officers were wounded in the attack.</p>.<p>The Taliban later claimed responsibility for the blast in a statement sent to media, saying the bomb killed dozens of Afghan security forces.</p>.<p>As the violence worsens, its impact on the children has been disproportionate across war-torn Afghanistan.</p>.<p>According to the UN Children's Fund the number of attacks against Afghan schools tripled last year compared to 2017.</p>.<p>By the end of 2018, more than 1,000 Afghan schools had been shut due to conflict.</p>.<p>The attack in Laghman comes a day after a helicopter crash in northern Balkh province killed at least seven Afghan military personnel, officials said.</p>.<p>Afghanistan is currently awaiting the results of the first round of presidential voting, which took place last month.</p>.<p>Polling was marred by several small-scale attacks claimed by the Taliban.</p>