A suicide bomber took the lives of three German soldiers and four Afghan civilians Saturday morning in a Kunduz market, the police informed.

The German soldiers were shopping in the town’s market when the bomber detonated his charge, killing the troopers and four shop owners. Dozens of people were injured, some of them being in grave condition.

"Three German soldiers were killed, two were wounded and four Afghan shopkeepers were killed while 14 others were wounded when the suicide attacker exploded himself in Chaiferoshi market today at 10:15am," a police official informed.

Along with the killed soldiers Saturday, the number of dead German soldiers in Afghanistan rises to 22 since the beginning of the operation six years ago. Most of the German forces are stationed in the north of the country.

The capital of the Kunduz province was the last important city controlled by the Taliban militants before the fall of the regime in November 26, 2006. Rumors that many of the Taliban rebels and al-Qaeda members fled the region aboard Pakistani aircrafts emerged after the coalition forces took control of the town. If true, this would by another confirmation that Pakistan hosts training camps for terrorists and Taliban insurgents.