Afghan police say a roadside bomb blast has killed at least 17 civilians in southern Helmand province.
Authorities say the victims were killed Friday morning when their minivan ran over a bomb in the Nahri Sarraj district.
Officials say security forces who responded to the explosion were attacked by insurgents. It was not immediately clear is any of the responders were killed.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the coordinated attack in Tarin Kot, the capital of Uruzgan province.