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Afghanistan: Suicide attack kills 13 US troops | Afghanistan: Suicide attack kills 13 US troops |
(40 minutes later) | |
A suicide bomber has attacked a bus carrying foreign troops in the Afghan capital Kabul killing 13 US soldiers. | A suicide bomber has attacked a bus carrying foreign troops in the Afghan capital Kabul killing 13 US soldiers. |
A Nato spokesman said the attacker detonated a car filled with explosives. | A Nato spokesman said the attacker detonated a car filled with explosives. |
The attack, in the Darulaman area, west of Kabul, also killed three Afghan civilians and a police officer. | The attack, in the Darulaman area, west of Kabul, also killed three Afghan civilians and a police officer. |
The Taliban has admitted carrying out the attack - one of the worst ground attacks against foreign troops since the beginning of the war. Such attacks are rare in heavily-guarded Kabul. | The Taliban has admitted carrying out the attack - one of the worst ground attacks against foreign troops since the beginning of the war. Such attacks are rare in heavily-guarded Kabul. |
Separately, three Australian soldiers were killed by a man in Afghan army uniform. Nato said the gunman was also killed in that attack in the south of the country. | Separately, three Australian soldiers were killed by a man in Afghan army uniform. Nato said the gunman was also killed in that attack in the south of the country. |
Fewer attacks have hit Kabul this year, compared to 2010. | Fewer attacks have hit Kabul this year, compared to 2010. |
But the Taliban and the Pakistan-based Haqqani network, which is linked to it, have still been able to penetrate the city's defences. | But the Taliban and the Pakistan-based Haqqani network, which is linked to it, have still been able to penetrate the city's defences. |
In September, the Haqqani network launched an attack on the American embassy and Isaf headquarters which lasted 20 hours. | In September, the Haqqani network launched an attack on the American embassy and Isaf headquarters which lasted 20 hours. |
Vehicles burning | Vehicles burning |
Police said the bomb had been in a car and was detonated at 11:20 (06:50 GMT). | |
The Taliban have been pushed back in the south of the country - their traditional heartland - where Isaf has made a lot of progress. But there are hot spots there and in the east of the country. | |
There has been a shift in the Taliban tactics - they are adaptable, in the way they match their attacks to a changed international mission. | |
Attacks on members of Isaf are down, but assassinations have dramatically risen by 60%, as have roadside bombs. | |
There has been some success in stopping attacks, but as Nato commanders say, "Militants have to be lucky only once, we have to be lucky every day." | |
The attack happened near Darulaman Palace, the bombed-out seat of Afghanistan's former kings on the south-west outskirts of the capital. | The attack happened near Darulaman Palace, the bombed-out seat of Afghanistan's former kings on the south-west outskirts of the capital. |
A reporter with the Associated Press news agency at the scene said the back of a Nato bus appeared to have been blown apart and was a charred shell. Nato helicopters were seen taking away casualties. | |
"It was a very strong bomb," said one eyewitness, Gulam Saki. | "It was a very strong bomb," said one eyewitness, Gulam Saki. |
Thick black smoke rose from the scene - and some distance away there were shattered windows and scattered pieces of twisted metal, suggesting the blast had been massive. | |
"A suicide car bomb attack was carried out on a bus of foreign forces in the Darulaman area of Kabul," Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in a text message to AFP news agency. | |
"Initial reports indicate that 13 International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) service members died following an improvised explosive device attack in Kabul earlier today," the force said in a statement. US officials later confirmed the soldiers were American. | |
It was the deadliest incident since the Taliban shot down a US helicopter in August, killing 30 US special forces. | |
There has been an increase in militant attacks across Afghanistan in recent months, despite the presence of more than 130,000 foreign troops. | There has been an increase in militant attacks across Afghanistan in recent months, despite the presence of more than 130,000 foreign troops. |
But this was a very significant attack, says the BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Kabul. It is rare for so many servicemen to die in a single incident, our correspondent says. | |
On Thursday the Taliban said it was behind an attack on a compound housing Western officials and military personnel in the city of Kandahar. The attack was repelled after a 15-hour battle. | On Thursday the Taliban said it was behind an attack on a compound housing Western officials and military personnel in the city of Kandahar. The attack was repelled after a 15-hour battle. |
The US is planning to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan and hand over security to local forces by 2014. | The US is planning to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan and hand over security to local forces by 2014. |