At least eight children have been killed in a roadside bomb explosion in northern Faryab province, an Afghan official has said.

Karim Yuresh, spokesman for the provincial police chief, said six other children were wounded in the blast that took place late Friday afternoon in Shirin Tagab district.

Yuresh said that according to a hospital report, two of the wounded children were in critical condition. He said all of the children were between five and 12 years of age and were playing when the bomb exploded.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but Yuresh blamed Taliban insurgents who usually planted roadside bombs to target Afghan security forces in different part of the province.