Mosque blast kills governor and 19 others
Source: Agencies |
October 9, 2010, Saturday
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A PROVINCIAL governor and at least 19 other people were killed by a massive bomb blast inside a packed mosque during prayers yesterday in northern Afghanistan, where insurgents have stepped up violence amid intensified NATO-Afghan military operations.
Thirty-five people were wounded in the explosion while praying at the Shirkat mosque in Takhar province, said Interior Ministry spokesman Zemeri Bashary.
General Shah Jahan Noori, the provincial police chief, said the governor of neighboring Kunduz province, Mohammad Omar, was killed along with 14 other people.
The bomb was meant to kill Omar, who regularly attends Friday prayers at the mosque, Takhar Governor Abdul Jabar Taqwa said.
"He was the target, and the terrorists were able to kill him," Taqwa said. "This is a big loss for us because Omar was a very brave and good governor."
Wounded people wrapped in bloodstained blankets were rushed to the hospital. One man, his face charred black from the blast, was carried on a stretcher.
No group claimed responsibility, but the Taliban have targeted Omar previously.
One of Afghanistan's 34 provincial governors, he survived at least three previous assassination attempts, including ambushes and roadside bombs. A bombing along a main highway in May 2009 slightly wounded him.
Omar blamed the "enemies of peace and security."
In an Afghan television interview last week, Omar said if security wasn't increased in Kunduz, insurgents would not only be a threat to northern Afghanistan, but to neighboring nations too. Omar said his province hosts Afghan militants and foreign fighters.
Kunduz was being used by insurgents to stage attacks across the region, he said.
Thirty-five people were wounded in the explosion while praying at the Shirkat mosque in Takhar province, said Interior Ministry spokesman Zemeri Bashary.
General Shah Jahan Noori, the provincial police chief, said the governor of neighboring Kunduz province, Mohammad Omar, was killed along with 14 other people.
The bomb was meant to kill Omar, who regularly attends Friday prayers at the mosque, Takhar Governor Abdul Jabar Taqwa said.
"He was the target, and the terrorists were able to kill him," Taqwa said. "This is a big loss for us because Omar was a very brave and good governor."
Wounded people wrapped in bloodstained blankets were rushed to the hospital. One man, his face charred black from the blast, was carried on a stretcher.
No group claimed responsibility, but the Taliban have targeted Omar previously.
One of Afghanistan's 34 provincial governors, he survived at least three previous assassination attempts, including ambushes and roadside bombs. A bombing along a main highway in May 2009 slightly wounded him.
Omar blamed the "enemies of peace and security."
In an Afghan television interview last week, Omar said if security wasn't increased in Kunduz, insurgents would not only be a threat to northern Afghanistan, but to neighboring nations too. Omar said his province hosts Afghan militants and foreign fighters.
Kunduz was being used by insurgents to stage attacks across the region, he said.
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