Twin bombs strike at Afghan checkpoint near governor's compound, killing 1, wounding 9

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan official says two bombs have exploded at a checkpoint outside a provincial governor's compound in the country's east, killing at least one police officer. Nine people have been wounded in the blasts.

The explosions struck early on Wednesday in Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province. The first bomb wounded a policeman. The second was remotely detonated minutes later as police swarmed to the scene to secure it. It killed one police officer and wounded five policemen and three civilians.

The governor's spokesman, Ahmad Zia Abdulzai, says authorities are investigating how insurgents were able to plant the bombs despite heavy security near the governor's compound.

Taliban militants have been ramping up attacks on government forces lately, seeking to destabilize Afghanistan as more foreign troops prepare to withdraw.