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Militants Storm Afghan Police Compound, Killing at Least 10 Militants Storm Afghan Police Compound, Killing at Least 10
(about 4 hours later)
KABUL, Afghanistan — A series of coordinated attacks in the heart of Jalalabad in eastern Afghanistan left at least 10 police officers dead, including the district police chief, after suicide bombers bearing firearms stormed their headquarters early Thursday morning, officials said.KABUL, Afghanistan — A series of coordinated attacks in the heart of Jalalabad in eastern Afghanistan left at least 10 police officers dead, including the district police chief, after suicide bombers bearing firearms stormed their headquarters early Thursday morning, officials said.
The assault, which also left 14 police officers wounded, began around 5 a.m. on Thursday when a car equipped with explosives sped through the gate to the police compound. Six bombers stormed the facility after the initial blast, waging a three-hour gun battle within the compound, according to Fazal Ahmad Sherzad, the police chief of Nangarhar Province, of which Jalalabad, one of the country’s largest and most economically vibrant cities, is the capital. Attack helicopters from the American-led international coalition could be seen circling the area after the assault. The assault, which also left 14 police officers wounded, began around 5 a.m. on Thursday when a car loaded with explosives sped through the gate to the police compound. Six bombers stormed the facility after the initial blast, waging a three-hour gun battle within the compound, according to Fazal Ahmad Sherzad, the police chief of Nangarhar Province, of which Jalalabad, one of the country’s largest and most economically vibrant cities, is the capital. Attack helicopters from the American-led international coalition could be seen circling the area after the assault.
Government officials said that two of the bombers were killed before they could detonate their explosives, but that the others managed to do so within the police compound, which is near the provincial governor’s palace as well as other government offices and a United Nations facility. Government officials said that two of the assailants were killed before they could detonate their explosives, but that the others managed to do so within the police compound, which is near the provincial governor’s palace as well as other government offices and a United Nations facility.
“Such attacks on our security forces will not weaken our morale,” said Nangarhar Province’s governor, Attullah Lodin. “I assure you that we continue to fight the enemies. We will do our utmost efforts to prevent such attacks from happening in the future.” “Such attacks on our security forces will not weaken our morale,” said Attullah Lodin, the governor of Nangarhar Province. “I assure you that we continue to fight the enemies. We will do our utmost efforts to prevent such attacks from happening in the future.”
A facility operated by state-run Radio Television Afghanistan was also attacked, but initial reports indicated that only one civilian was killed, due to the early hour of the assault. A facility operated by state-run Radio Television Afghanistan was also attacked, but initial reports indicated that because of the early hour of the assault, only one civilian was killed.
The Taliban claimed credit for the attack, which came just weeks before presidential elections scheduled for April 5. The Taliban have pledged to violently disrupt the voting and have issued a blanket threat to those who aid in the election effort. Another deadly assault earlier this week in Faryab Province, which killed 18 civilians, underscored that promise. Officials there said the bombing was meant to discourage public participation in the election. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, which came just weeks before the presidential election, scheduled for April 5. The Taliban have pledged to violently disrupt the voting and have issued a blanket threat to those who aid in the election effort. Another deadly assault earlier this week, in Faryab Province, killed 18 civilians, underscoring that threat. Officials there said the bombing was meant to discourage public participation in the election.
With just over two weeks left before the election, candidates have been traversing the country, holding rallies and events despite the security threat.With just over two weeks left before the election, candidates have been traversing the country, holding rallies and events despite the security threat.