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Afghan Taliban kill dozens at Kandahar airport | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Dozens of people have been killed in a Taliban attack on a heavily fortified civilian and military airfield in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar. | |
The defence ministry said that at least 37 people, including many children, had been killed in the clashes. At least nine militants were also killed. | |
A number of hostages were seized in the 26-hour attack before Afghan forces retook the airport. | |
Final "mopping up operations" were now under way, military officials said. | |
The Taliban said a number of suicide fighters managed to enter the base with weapons. They said "martyrdom seekers" had launched "thunderous attacks on foreign and hireling personnel". | The Taliban said a number of suicide fighters managed to enter the base with weapons. They said "martyrdom seekers" had launched "thunderous attacks on foreign and hireling personnel". |
The defence ministry statement said that a total of 11 insurgents took part in the attack. As well as nine killed, another was injured. Reports said a final gunman held out on his own for several hours before being killed late on Wednesday evening. | |
Kandahar security officials put the number of attackers at 12, all of whom had been killed. | |
At least 35 people were injured in the attack, the defence ministry said. | |
The raid was the latest in a series of battlefield victories by the Taliban who briefly seized the northern city of Kunduz in September. | |
The airport compound houses Afghan military and civilian sections as well as a Nato base. | The airport compound houses Afghan military and civilian sections as well as a Nato base. |
Officials said the attackers initially managed to breach the first gate of the complex. | Officials said the attackers initially managed to breach the first gate of the complex. |
Tolo News TV said the insurgents were dressed in military uniform and were equipped with light and heavy weaponry. It has reported that 14 insurgents were killed. | |
A doctor at a military hospital, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the BBC that a number of bodies had been received, including those of four soldiers. The hostages were believed to include women and small children. | A doctor at a military hospital, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the BBC that a number of bodies had been received, including those of four soldiers. The hostages were believed to include women and small children. |
Correspondents say the attack is a huge security failure because the attackers were able to smuggle weapons into an area supposed to have been made secure by the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). | Correspondents say the attack is a huge security failure because the attackers were able to smuggle weapons into an area supposed to have been made secure by the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). |
Kandahar army commander Sher Shah told reporters that radio intercepts had found that some militants were speaking in Urdu - a language more common in neighbouring Pakistan. Afghan officials frequently blame Pakistan for unrest. | Kandahar army commander Sher Shah told reporters that radio intercepts had found that some militants were speaking in Urdu - a language more common in neighbouring Pakistan. Afghan officials frequently blame Pakistan for unrest. |
The statement by the Taliban claimed that they had killed up to 80 soldiers. This figure could not be verified. | The statement by the Taliban claimed that they had killed up to 80 soldiers. This figure could not be verified. |
Kandahar airport director Ahmadullah Faizi told AFP news agency that some passengers waiting to board a commercial flight to India had been trapped inside the airport's civilian terminal, at some distance from the fighting, during the attack. | Kandahar airport director Ahmadullah Faizi told AFP news agency that some passengers waiting to board a commercial flight to India had been trapped inside the airport's civilian terminal, at some distance from the fighting, during the attack. |
Separately, the Taliban claimed to have captured Khanashin district in southern Helmand province. | Separately, the Taliban claimed to have captured Khanashin district in southern Helmand province. |
A local official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the district had fallen. | A local official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the district had fallen. |
Militant violence has increased across Afghanistan since the departure of most Nato and US forces last year. | Militant violence has increased across Afghanistan since the departure of most Nato and US forces last year. |
The latest violence came as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani called for help to defeat terrorism, at a regional conference in Pakistan. | |
Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani, speaking at the conference, called on Pakistan to help restart stalled peace talks with the Taliban. | Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani, speaking at the conference, called on Pakistan to help restart stalled peace talks with the Taliban. |