Suicide bombers open way for gunmen
Source: Agencies |
November 4, 2011, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
TWO suicide bombers blew up a car packed with explosives at the entrance to a compound housing NATO contractors in western Afghanistan yesterday.
They opening the way for three gunmen to rush in and hold employees hostage during an hours-long gunbattle, officials said.
Two private security guards and all five attackers were killed during the assault at a compound occupied by Italian troops in Herat province.
A NATO service member, an Afghan policeman and a private security guard were wounded, according to officials. Thirty-one people were evacuated from the site.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which occurred around 9:30am in Guzara district, south of the provincial capital of Herat.
NATO dispatched a quick-reaction force that included ground troops and aircraft to the scene, about a kilometer from Camp Arena, headquarters of NATO's Regional Command West.
The assault came just days after the Taliban launched a two-pronged assault on a compound housing UN and international aid groups' offices in southern Afghanistan.
Five people were killed in the attack, including three people working with the UN's refugee organization.
Yesterday's attack began with a suicide car bombing near the entrance of the compound, on the main road to the airport, according to Noorkhan Nekzad, a spokesman for the provincial police chief.
The road is a route often used by NATO and Afghan forces.
The violence comes as the US-led coalition tries to speed up the transition of security responsibilities to its Afghan counterparts before the end of 2014, when US and NATO forces are scheduled to end their combat mission and go home or move into training or support roles.
The transfer of security responsibilities in Herat city began in July, and the incident could raise new questions about the ability of Afghan security forces to take on the Taliban.
While NATO's 10-year war against the Taliban has hit the insurgents hard, they continue to be able to pull off headline-grabbing attacks.
They opening the way for three gunmen to rush in and hold employees hostage during an hours-long gunbattle, officials said.
Two private security guards and all five attackers were killed during the assault at a compound occupied by Italian troops in Herat province.
A NATO service member, an Afghan policeman and a private security guard were wounded, according to officials. Thirty-one people were evacuated from the site.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which occurred around 9:30am in Guzara district, south of the provincial capital of Herat.
NATO dispatched a quick-reaction force that included ground troops and aircraft to the scene, about a kilometer from Camp Arena, headquarters of NATO's Regional Command West.
The assault came just days after the Taliban launched a two-pronged assault on a compound housing UN and international aid groups' offices in southern Afghanistan.
Five people were killed in the attack, including three people working with the UN's refugee organization.
Yesterday's attack began with a suicide car bombing near the entrance of the compound, on the main road to the airport, according to Noorkhan Nekzad, a spokesman for the provincial police chief.
The road is a route often used by NATO and Afghan forces.
The violence comes as the US-led coalition tries to speed up the transition of security responsibilities to its Afghan counterparts before the end of 2014, when US and NATO forces are scheduled to end their combat mission and go home or move into training or support roles.
The transfer of security responsibilities in Herat city began in July, and the incident could raise new questions about the ability of Afghan security forces to take on the Taliban.
While NATO's 10-year war against the Taliban has hit the insurgents hard, they continue to be able to pull off headline-grabbing attacks.
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