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Afghanistan suicide bomber 'kills 10' in Faryab | Afghanistan suicide bomber 'kills 10' in Faryab |
(40 minutes later) | |
A suicide bomb attack in northern Afghanistan has left at least 10 people dead, officials say. | A suicide bomb attack in northern Afghanistan has left at least 10 people dead, officials say. |
Sources told the BBC the bomber had targeted a meeting of officials in Maymana, capital of Faryab province. | Sources told the BBC the bomber had targeted a meeting of officials in Maymana, capital of Faryab province. |
More than 20 people were hurt, a number critically. Nato said three service members were killed in a blast in the north on Wednesday but has not linked it to the Faryab incident. | |
Attacks in northern Afghanistan are far less common than in the south and east. | Attacks in northern Afghanistan are far less common than in the south and east. |
Nato's Isaf force said it was aware of "reported civilian/military casualties" in Faryab but was still investigating and stressed it had not yet made any announcement related to victims there. | |
Strategic partnership | Strategic partnership |
The BBC's Bilal Sarwary in Kabul says a suicide attacker on a motorbike approached the meeting near the main vegetable market, which was packed with shoppers as well as Afghan and Western security forces. | The BBC's Bilal Sarwary in Kabul says a suicide attacker on a motorbike approached the meeting near the main vegetable market, which was packed with shoppers as well as Afghan and Western security forces. |
A former MP, Haji Ahmad Khan, told the BBC: ''There was a big function in Maymana. The suicide attacker got inside the meeting and attacked. There is blood everywhere. There are body parts scattered.'' | A former MP, Haji Ahmad Khan, told the BBC: ''There was a big function in Maymana. The suicide attacker got inside the meeting and attacked. There is blood everywhere. There are body parts scattered.'' |
A senior police official in Maymana added: ''Most of those killed and injured are local shopkeepers." | A senior police official in Maymana added: ''Most of those killed and injured are local shopkeepers." |
A spokesman for the regional Afghan command said two women and two children were among the dead. Four policemen are also reported to have been killed. | A spokesman for the regional Afghan command said two women and two children were among the dead. Four policemen are also reported to have been killed. |
The Taliban said they carried out the attack. | The Taliban said they carried out the attack. |
Most of the foreign forces in Faryab are Norwegians but a spokesman for the country's army told AFP none of its troops were nearby. | |
Norway currently contributes some 400 soldiers to the 130,000-strong Isaf that is fighting the Taliban-led insurgency. Norway has lost 10 personnel since the Nato-led invasion took place in 2001. | |
Most of the Isaf force is due to be withdrawn from Afghanistan by the end of 2014. | |
Nato and the government of President Hamid Karzai are still working on a strategic partnership agreement on Nato involvement after 2014. | Nato and the government of President Hamid Karzai are still working on a strategic partnership agreement on Nato involvement after 2014. |
In a separate incident, the police chief of Chardara district in Kunduz province told the BBC that a local police official had turned his gun on his commander and two of the commander's bodyguards, killing all three before fleeing. | |
The commander was a former Taliban member who joined the government last year. | |
The Taliban have continued their campaign of gun and bomb attacks on Nato forces this year, with almost 100 service members killed. | The Taliban have continued their campaign of gun and bomb attacks on Nato forces this year, with almost 100 service members killed. |
The number of incidents rose after the burning of Korans by US troops at base in February. | The number of incidents rose after the burning of Korans by US troops at base in February. |
Tensions were further inflamed by the killing of 17 Afghan civilians, including nine children on 11 March by US Staff Sgt Robert Bales, 38, in their homes in Kandahar province. | Tensions were further inflamed by the killing of 17 Afghan civilians, including nine children on 11 March by US Staff Sgt Robert Bales, 38, in their homes in Kandahar province. |
Taliban attacks traditionally increase further at this time of year following a winter lull, when bad weather restricts the movement of fighters. | Taliban attacks traditionally increase further at this time of year following a winter lull, when bad weather restricts the movement of fighters. |
Are you in Maymana? Did you witness the attack? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in Maymana? Did you witness the attack? Send us your comments using the form below. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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