MAZAR-I-SHARIF, Afghanistan, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- Eight Afghan civilians were killed in a roadside bomb explosion in northern Balkh province on Sunday, a local official said.

"The blast occurred after a vehicle carrying eight civilians touched off a roadside bomb along a main road in Imam Sahib village, Chimtal district at midday," Matin Khojazada, Chimtal district chief, told Xinhua.

"The bodies were shifted to district hospital and district police were trying to notify the victims' next of kin," he added.

The district chief blamed the enemies of peace, referring to the Taliban militant group, for the attack.

Taliban militants have been using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to make roadside bombs and landmines targeting security forces, but the lethal home-made weapons also inflict casualties on civilians.