Afghanistan suicide bomber targets military airport
- 12 years ago
The aftermath of a deadly bomb blast at a military airport in eastern Afghanistan.
A suicide car bomber killed at least nine people in Jalalabad on Monday.
Those wounded in the explosion were being treated at a local hospital.
A provincial spokesman describes what happened.
(SOUNDBITE) (Pashto) PROVINCIAL SPOKESMAN AHMAD ZAI ABDULZAI SAYING:
"It was 6:30 in the morning, when a Corolla car carrying a bomb hit the gate of the airport. Unfortunately, as a result, nine people were killed and twelve others wounded. Six of those dead were civilians, two were guards and one was an army soldier."
The explosion did not damage the military airport itself, which is used by international troops.
There was no clear indication the blast was linked to recent deadly protests and riots, although the Taliban quickly claimed responsibility for the attack as "revenge" for burnings of the Koran at a NATO base last week.
Anti-western fury has deepened significantly in the county since the desecration of the Muslim holy book, despite apologies from military commanders and U.S. leaders, including President Barack Obama.
Travis Brecher, Reuters
A suicide car bomber killed at least nine people in Jalalabad on Monday.
Those wounded in the explosion were being treated at a local hospital.
A provincial spokesman describes what happened.
(SOUNDBITE) (Pashto) PROVINCIAL SPOKESMAN AHMAD ZAI ABDULZAI SAYING:
"It was 6:30 in the morning, when a Corolla car carrying a bomb hit the gate of the airport. Unfortunately, as a result, nine people were killed and twelve others wounded. Six of those dead were civilians, two were guards and one was an army soldier."
The explosion did not damage the military airport itself, which is used by international troops.
There was no clear indication the blast was linked to recent deadly protests and riots, although the Taliban quickly claimed responsibility for the attack as "revenge" for burnings of the Koran at a NATO base last week.
Anti-western fury has deepened significantly in the county since the desecration of the Muslim holy book, despite apologies from military commanders and U.S. leaders, including President Barack Obama.
Travis Brecher, Reuters