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Afghanistan: Suicide blast kills top police commander | Afghanistan: Suicide blast kills top police commander |
(40 minutes later) | |
The police commander for northern Afghanistan has been killed in a suicide bomb attack on Takhar province governor's office. | |
Gen Mohammad Daud Daud is one of at least seven people killed in the attack, claimed by the Taliban. | |
Western and Afghan troops are among "a significant number of casualties", a Nato spokesman said. | Western and Afghan troops are among "a significant number of casualties", a Nato spokesman said. |
Gen Daud was former military commander of the Northern Alliance, the Afghan forces who fought the Taliban. | Gen Daud was former military commander of the Northern Alliance, the Afghan forces who fought the Taliban. |
Afghanistan has seen a series of attacks in recent months by militants on police and military targets. | Afghanistan has seen a series of attacks in recent months by militants on police and military targets. |
High-level meeting | High-level meeting |
The latest attack will be seen as significant because it has struck an area of the country's north which has been seen as relatively secure. | The latest attack will be seen as significant because it has struck an area of the country's north which has been seen as relatively secure. |
The BBC's Paul Wood in Kabul says the attack is a propaganda victory for the Taliban and a blow to wider, counter-insurgency efforts. | The BBC's Paul Wood in Kabul says the attack is a propaganda victory for the Taliban and a blow to wider, counter-insurgency efforts. |
Gen Daud was in charge of all interior ministry forces in northern Afghanistan and is the most senior figure to be killed so far in a Taliban "spring offensive". | |
Powerful, charismatic, controversial - General Daud played a critical role as Afghan forces prepare to take over from Isaf in key cities this year. | Powerful, charismatic, controversial - General Daud played a critical role as Afghan forces prepare to take over from Isaf in key cities this year. |
When I last saw him in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif in March, he was calm and confident as he organised a major security operation during Nawroz (New Year) celebrations. | When I last saw him in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif in March, he was calm and confident as he organised a major security operation during Nawroz (New Year) celebrations. |
Despite reports of suicide bombers in the city, there were no attacks. But he came under criticism weeks later when the UN compound was stormed by a violent mob. | Despite reports of suicide bombers in the city, there were no attacks. But he came under criticism weeks later when the UN compound was stormed by a violent mob. |
There were persistent allegations he played a key role in the drugs trade he was meant to stop. But his charm and capabilities won him allies among foreign forces - although some expressed suspicion there was an "agenda" of greater autonomy for the North. | There were persistent allegations he played a key role in the drugs trade he was meant to stop. But his charm and capabilities won him allies among foreign forces - although some expressed suspicion there was an "agenda" of greater autonomy for the North. |
The attack will heighten concerns over the Taliban's campaign to assassinate key Afghan figures. | |
He was highly thought of by Nato because he got the job done, our correspondent adds. | |
Gen Daud was a former deputy interior minister for narcotics. | |
He also served as the bodyguard to Ahmad Shah Massoud, who commanded the Northern Alliance. | |
The attack occurred at the compound of Takhar provincial governor Abdul Jabar Taqwa, in Taloqan, where officials were having a meeting. | |
The bomber, wearing a police uniform, was waiting in the corridor when the officials came out, our correspondent says. | |
Seven people were killed in the explosion, including Gen Daud and the provincial police chief Shah Jahan Nuri, a spokesman for the governor's office said. | |
At least 10 Afghans were injured, including the provincial governor, he added. | |
The Taliban has claimed it carried out the attack. | The Taliban has claimed it carried out the attack. |
The governor's spokesman said three German troops were killed in the bombing, but this has not been confirmed by Nato. | |
A spokesman for the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) said there were reports of "a number of casualties" but did not give details. | |
Among those who survived the blast was General Markus Kneip, the top commander of foreign troops in north Afghanistan. | |
An Isaf spokesman confirmed that Gen Kneip was in the compound at the time but "was not killed". | |
German media reported that the general was wounded, along with three of his soldiers, while two German troops were killed. | |
German troops are based in neighbouring Kunduz province, and have oversight of Takhar. | |
The province was until recently a relatively quiet area of Afghanistan, but tensions rose in May after a Nato-led night raid in Taloqan which killed four people. | |
A crowd of 2,000 people took to the streets to protest against the attack, claiming the victims were civilians. | A crowd of 2,000 people took to the streets to protest against the attack, claiming the victims were civilians. |
Nato said the group were insurgents. | Nato said the group were insurgents. |
Police opened fire on the demonstrators, killing 12 people and wounding 80. | Police opened fire on the demonstrators, killing 12 people and wounding 80. |
A smaller protest the following day saw the provincial police chief's compound attacked. | A smaller protest the following day saw the provincial police chief's compound attacked. |