Police in northern Afghanistan say a suicide bomber on Wednesday detonated a vehicle packed with explosives in a crowded marketplace, killing at least 17 people and wounding more than 30 others.

The bombing occurred in Almar district of the restive Faryab province, and authorities fear the death toll is expected to rise.

No one has yet claimed responsibility for the violence. Taliban insurgents frequently carry attacks against security forces in the province. 

The bombing came after an unusual lull in Taliban attacks in Afghanistan during the three-day Muslim festival of Eid, which ended on Sunday.

On Monday, an accidental U.S. airstrike killed 7 Afghan soldiers and wounded five others during clashes with Taliban militants in the southeastern Logar province.
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