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Afghanistan: Many die in assault on governor's compound | Afghanistan: Many die in assault on governor's compound |
(2 days later) | |
At least 19 people are dead and many are injured after militants in Afghanistan stormed the provincial governor's compound in Parwan. | At least 19 people are dead and many are injured after militants in Afghanistan stormed the provincial governor's compound in Parwan. |
Powerful explosions followed by bursts of gunfire were heard in the provincial capital, Charikar, an hour's drive north-west of Kabul, witnesses said. | Powerful explosions followed by bursts of gunfire were heard in the provincial capital, Charikar, an hour's drive north-west of Kabul, witnesses said. |
The governor, Abdul Basir Salangi, told media from inside the compound that up to six suicide bombers had struck. | The governor, Abdul Basir Salangi, told media from inside the compound that up to six suicide bombers had struck. |
The Taliban say they carried out the attack, which lasted at least an hour. | The Taliban say they carried out the attack, which lasted at least an hour. |
The BBC's Quentin Sommerville says Parwan is usually relatively peaceful. | The BBC's Quentin Sommerville says Parwan is usually relatively peaceful. |
However, under-equipped police there have been struggling both to resist Taliban militants and a rising crime level. | However, under-equipped police there have been struggling both to resist Taliban militants and a rising crime level. |
Close quarters | Close quarters |
Militants attacked the compound just after 11:00 (06:30 GMT), the Afghan interior ministry said. | Militants attacked the compound just after 11:00 (06:30 GMT), the Afghan interior ministry said. |
A suicide car bomb was detonated, after which five other militants wearing bomb vests broke into the compound, police said. | A suicide car bomb was detonated, after which five other militants wearing bomb vests broke into the compound, police said. |
Mr Salangi told the BBC: ''A suicide attacker wearing a police uniform... detonated his explosives outside the northern gate. Then five others attacked my office. | Mr Salangi told the BBC: ''A suicide attacker wearing a police uniform... detonated his explosives outside the northern gate. Then five others attacked my office. |
"They managed to get inside the compound to the halls. The fighting went on for one hour." | "They managed to get inside the compound to the halls. The fighting went on for one hour." |
Police and intelligence sources told the BBC the compound had been attacked from several directions. | Police and intelligence sources told the BBC the compound had been attacked from several directions. |
Fighting was so fierce that government forces were sometimes just a meter (yard) from their attackers. | Fighting was so fierce that government forces were sometimes just a meter (yard) from their attackers. |
"They even got close to the governor's office... but his bodyguards opened fire, killing the last attacker, who was using a rocket-propelled grenade," a police source said. | "They even got close to the governor's office... but his bodyguards opened fire, killing the last attacker, who was using a rocket-propelled grenade," a police source said. |
Security at the compound had been reinforced after a recent attempt to kill the governor, an important ally of President Hamid Karzai, the BBC's Bilal Sarwary reports. | Security at the compound had been reinforced after a recent attempt to kill the governor, an important ally of President Hamid Karzai, the BBC's Bilal Sarwary reports. |
Officials killed | Officials killed |
A meeting of security chiefs was under way when Sunday's attack occurred. | A meeting of security chiefs was under way when Sunday's attack occurred. |
Local police and intelligence chiefs were present, along with advisers from the international coalition. | Local police and intelligence chiefs were present, along with advisers from the international coalition. |
According to the independent Afghan news agency Pajhwok, most of the victims had come to the governor's house to collect their national identity cards. | According to the independent Afghan news agency Pajhwok, most of the victims had come to the governor's house to collect their national identity cards. |
At least two US military officials were taking part but were unhurt, according to provincial police chief Sher Mohammad Maladani. | At least two US military officials were taking part but were unhurt, according to provincial police chief Sher Mohammad Maladani. |
The governor's compound has come under attack on previous occasions. | The governor's compound has come under attack on previous occasions. |
The Taliban recently appeared to change their tactics, launching attacks on prominent figures or targets which were deemed to be particularly well-protected. | The Taliban recently appeared to change their tactics, launching attacks on prominent figures or targets which were deemed to be particularly well-protected. |