Gunfight leaves 11 dead in Kabul
Source: Agencies |
June 26, 2013, Wednesday
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TALIBAN militants stormed the presidential compound in Kabul yesterday after slipping past two checkpoints, triggering a gun battle that left eight attackers and three guards dead and sent journalists attending an official event scrambling for cover.
The gun battle started around 6:30am near the east gate leading to the palace next to the Afghan Ministry of Defense and the former Ariana Hotel, which former US intelligence officials have confirmed is used by the CIA. While one carload of Taliban fighters dressed in camouflage emerged from their black Land Cruiser and started shooting, another got stuck between the two checkpoints and detonated their explosives-laden vehicle.
The Taliban said all eight of its fighters died in the attack, while the Interior Ministry said three security guards were killed and another wounded.
The attack was a bitter reminder of the ability of the Taliban to penetrate the heart of the capital, showing their strength in the fight against President Hamid Karzai's Western-backed government.
The Taliban have indicated they are willing to open peace talks with the US and the Afghanistan government and just last week opened an office in Qatar for possible negotiations. At the same time they have not renounced violence and attacks have continued across Afghanistan.
The palace is in a large fortified area of downtown Kabul that also includes the US Embassy and the headquarters for the NATO-led coalition forces and access is heavily restricted.
The attackers were stopped in Ariana Square, at least 500 meters and several checkpoints away from the palace itself. It was unclear where Karzai was at the time.
Kabul police chief General Mohamad Ayub Salangi said the gunmen jumped out of their SUV and opened fire after being stopped by security forces while trying to use fake documents to get through a checkpoint. All gunmen were killed, and one palace security guard was wounded, he said. The car bomb then exploded as it tried to enter the area.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility, saying in an e-mailed statement that "eight of our suicide bombers were able to reach the most secure area of Kabul," identifying them by name and saying they were carrying hand grenades, a machine gun and rocket-propelled grenades.
"The brave mujahedeen, with special tactics and help from inside, were able to reach their target with their weapons and cars," he said. He said their targets were the CIA building, the palace and the Defense Ministry and claimed "a number of foreign invaders were killed and wounded in the attack."
The NATO-led coalition in Afghanistan instituted a camp lockdown during the incident and said in a short statement that its forces had been ready to assist but were not called in by Afghan authorities.
The US Embassy canceled all consular appointments.
The gun battle started around 6:30am near the east gate leading to the palace next to the Afghan Ministry of Defense and the former Ariana Hotel, which former US intelligence officials have confirmed is used by the CIA. While one carload of Taliban fighters dressed in camouflage emerged from their black Land Cruiser and started shooting, another got stuck between the two checkpoints and detonated their explosives-laden vehicle.
The Taliban said all eight of its fighters died in the attack, while the Interior Ministry said three security guards were killed and another wounded.
The attack was a bitter reminder of the ability of the Taliban to penetrate the heart of the capital, showing their strength in the fight against President Hamid Karzai's Western-backed government.
The Taliban have indicated they are willing to open peace talks with the US and the Afghanistan government and just last week opened an office in Qatar for possible negotiations. At the same time they have not renounced violence and attacks have continued across Afghanistan.
The palace is in a large fortified area of downtown Kabul that also includes the US Embassy and the headquarters for the NATO-led coalition forces and access is heavily restricted.
The attackers were stopped in Ariana Square, at least 500 meters and several checkpoints away from the palace itself. It was unclear where Karzai was at the time.
Kabul police chief General Mohamad Ayub Salangi said the gunmen jumped out of their SUV and opened fire after being stopped by security forces while trying to use fake documents to get through a checkpoint. All gunmen were killed, and one palace security guard was wounded, he said. The car bomb then exploded as it tried to enter the area.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility, saying in an e-mailed statement that "eight of our suicide bombers were able to reach the most secure area of Kabul," identifying them by name and saying they were carrying hand grenades, a machine gun and rocket-propelled grenades.
"The brave mujahedeen, with special tactics and help from inside, were able to reach their target with their weapons and cars," he said. He said their targets were the CIA building, the palace and the Defense Ministry and claimed "a number of foreign invaders were killed and wounded in the attack."
The NATO-led coalition in Afghanistan instituted a camp lockdown during the incident and said in a short statement that its forces had been ready to assist but were not called in by Afghan authorities.
The US Embassy canceled all consular appointments.
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