An explosion outside a school south of the Afghan capital has killed at least 25 people, including 12 students.

Afghan men ìnspect the site of an explosion in Mohammad Agha district of Lohar province, about 30 kms south of the capital Kabul. A truck rigged with explosives blew up near Kabul on Thursday killing 25 people including many students in one of the deadliest blasts in Afghanistan this year, police said.[Shah Marai/CCTV/AFP]

The blast occurred in Logar province south of Kabul. Officials said it was caused by explosives hidden beneath a pile of firewood in the back of a truck which had crashed overnight.

This fact prompted speculation the material was meant for elsewhere. Local police said the explosives were possibly being taken by Taliban insurgents to Kabul for a planned attack.

It was the latest incident in the escalating violence across Afghanistan since U.S. Marines launched a new offensive a week ago in the Taliban bastion of Helmand.

(CCTV July 10, 2009)