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3 Americans Are Killed by Guard at Afghan Hospital 3 Americans Are Killed by Guard at Afghan Hospital
(about 1 hour later)
KABUL, Afghanistan — Three Americans, including at least one doctor, were killed Thursday morning when an Afghan police officer turned his gun on them at a private hospital in Kabul, officials said, an attack that underscored the growing frustration with the Western presence here a decade after the war began. KABUL, Afghanistan — Three Americans were killed at a private hospital in Kabul on Thursday morning when an Afghan police officer turned his gun on them , officials said, in a new eruption of anti-Western hostility here.
The shooting took place at Cure International Hospital, a 100-bed facility that specializes in the treatment of disabled children and women’s health issues, including fistula and premature birth. One of the physicians who worked at the facility was hosting three visitors from the United States, said Gen. Mohammad Zahir, the Kabul police chief. The three had taken a picture in front of the hospital’s entrance sign before going in, witnesses said. The shooting took place at Cure International Hospital, a 100-bed facility that specializes in the treatment of disabled children and women’s health issues. One of the physicians who worked at the facility was hosting visitors from the United States, said Gen. Mohammad Zahir, the Kabul police chief.
A government official said the police officer, Ainuddin, a two-year veteran of the department, had only recently been assigned to the unit guarding the hospital. Witnesses and officials said he had fired on the Americans when they entered a security vestibule at the entrance to the building, killing them and wounding a female doctor. Ainuddin, who like many Afghans goes by one name, then entered the interior courtyard, where he continued to fire at foreigners, officials said. Among the dead was a pediatrician from Chicago, Dr. Jerry Umanos, who had worked at the Cure hospital since 2005.
“We have lost a dear friend,” said James Brooks, the chief ministry officer at the Lawndale Christian Health Center in Chicago, where Dr. Umanos had worked for 25 years. “Our clinic is grieving right now. Our hearts are broken.”
Initial reports by Afghan police officials had said all three of the dead were doctors, though that no longer seemed to be the case late Thursday. Details about the other victims remained unconfirmed.
An Afghan government official said the police officer, Ainuddin, a two-year veteran of the department, had only recently been assigned to the unit guarding the hospital. Witnesses and officials said he fired on the Americans when they entered a security vestibule at the entrance to the building, killing them and wounding a female doctor. Ainuddin, who like many Afghans goes by one name, then entered the interior courtyard, where he continued to fire, officials said.
Other officers were reported to have wounded the gunman before he could kill anyone else, although one security official said Ainuddin had shot himself.Other officers were reported to have wounded the gunman before he could kill anyone else, although one security official said Ainuddin had shot himself.
The Taliban did not claim responsibility for the attack, raising the possibility that the gunman was part of a growing class of Afghans disenchanted with the presence of Americans in the country. Bitterness has spilled into the narrative about the American presence here, as fears about the military withdrawal and its attendant uncertainty grow. The Taliban did not claim responsibility for the attack, raising the possibility that the gunman was part of a growing class of Afghans alienated by the presence of Americans. here. Bitterness against Westerners in Afghanistan has seemed to intensify as uncertainty has deepened over the future of the foreign military presence here.
Less than three weeks ago, an award-winning photographer for The Associated Press, Anja Niedringhaus, a German citizen, was killed by a police officer at a checkpoint in eastern Afghanistan. Her colleague Kathy Gannon, a Canadian reporter, was also wounded in the attack. A month before that, a Swedish journalist was shot and killed in a heavily guarded area of Kabul. Less than three weeks ago, an award-winning photographer for The Associated Press, Anja Niedringhaus, a German citizen, was killed by a police officer at a checkpoint in eastern Afghanistan. Her colleague Kathy Gannon, a Canadian reporter who had covered Afghanistan and Pakistan for the A.P. for decades, was also wounded in the attack. A month before that, a Swedish journalist was shot and killed in a heavily guarded area of Kabul.
The attacks are reminiscent of the so-called green-on-blue shootings by Afghan soldiers against their allies in the coalition. Two years ago, a sharp increase in the number of insider attacks threatened to derail the training mission that is central to the American military withdrawal scheduled for this year. The attacks are reminiscent of the so-called green-on-blue shootings by Afghan soldiers against their allies in the coalition. Two years ago, a sharp increase in the number of those insider attacks threatened to derail the training mission that is central to the American military withdrawal scheduled for this year.
But as fewer of the international coalition soldiers leave their heavily fortified bases, and as new strategies are put in place to safeguard against insider attacks, such episodes have all but subsided. Foreign workers in Afghanistan have been singled out for attacks, although the number of civilians targeted is still small compared with the number of military deaths. But as international coalition soldiers have increasingly stuck to their bases this year, and as new strategies have been put in place to safeguard against insider attacks, such episodes have all but subsided. Foreign workers in Afghanistan have been singled out for attacks, although the number of civilians targeted is still small compared with the number of military deaths.
Beyond the recent killing of journalists, a concerted effort by the Taliban to target locations that are popular with expatriates was evident before the presidential elections in early April. An assault in January on the Taverna du Liban restaurant in central Kabul left 21 dead, most of them foreigners, and shootings at the luxury Serena Hotel last month left nine dead. Such events have put the thousands of foreigners living in Kabul on high alert.Beyond the recent killing of journalists, a concerted effort by the Taliban to target locations that are popular with expatriates was evident before the presidential elections in early April. An assault in January on the Taverna du Liban restaurant in central Kabul left 21 dead, most of them foreigners, and shootings at the luxury Serena Hotel last month left nine dead. Such events have put the thousands of foreigners living in Kabul on high alert.
The unpredictable nature of the violence has prompted some embassies to redouble their security efforts, and has led those living outside secure areas to limit their exposure.The unpredictable nature of the violence has prompted some embassies to redouble their security efforts, and has led those living outside secure areas to limit their exposure.
The scene of the attack on Thursday presented a somewhat troubling case study in the waning patience of most Afghans for the Western presence here.The scene of the attack on Thursday presented a somewhat troubling case study in the waning patience of most Afghans for the Western presence here.
Amid the two dozen police officers clustered around the entrance to the hospital, a group of men whose female relatives were patients at the hospital gathered. Some expressed fears that it would shut down, forcing Afghans to turn to poorly funded public hospitals.Amid the two dozen police officers clustered around the entrance to the hospital, a group of men whose female relatives were patients at the hospital gathered. Some expressed fears that it would shut down, forcing Afghans to turn to poorly funded public hospitals.
Others spoke of the attacks with little sympathy. “The foreigners have been here too long,” said a man who gave his name as Fawad, whose female relative was in the hospital undergoing surgery. “People are tired of them.”Others spoke of the attacks with little sympathy. “The foreigners have been here too long,” said a man who gave his name as Fawad, whose female relative was in the hospital undergoing surgery. “People are tired of them.”
A car pulled up a short while later, and the driver was told by the police to leave the area. When the police explained that an officer had shot and killed three foreigners, the driver replied, “Good for him that he killed the infidels.”A car pulled up a short while later, and the driver was told by the police to leave the area. When the police explained that an officer had shot and killed three foreigners, the driver replied, “Good for him that he killed the infidels.”
Several Afghans at the hospital responded with expressions of shame, and worried about the consequences of the attack.Several Afghans at the hospital responded with expressions of shame, and worried about the consequences of the attack.
“This is so bad,” said Ahmad Shekib, a Kabul resident whose aunt had just delivered a baby. “We will lose this source of health services. These were good people who had left their families and had come all the way from U.S. to help Afghans. It is so shameful.”“This is so bad,” said Ahmad Shekib, a Kabul resident whose aunt had just delivered a baby. “We will lose this source of health services. These were good people who had left their families and had come all the way from U.S. to help Afghans. It is so shameful.”
Others said the attack would harm the very people the foreigners were trying to help.Others said the attack would harm the very people the foreigners were trying to help.
“We will lose this source of proper health service,” said Mohammed Safar, from Ghazni Province, who idled by the entrance. “Who bears the brunt? Poor Afghans. Rich Afghans can afford taking their patients to Dubai and Europe. Where will we go?”“We will lose this source of proper health service,” said Mohammed Safar, from Ghazni Province, who idled by the entrance. “Who bears the brunt? Poor Afghans. Rich Afghans can afford taking their patients to Dubai and Europe. Where will we go?”
Cure International, a Christian organization, started in 1998 in Kenya and now operates hospitals and programs in 29 countries. The organization focuses on health issues for which treatment is difficult to obtain in the developing world, including club foot, cleft palate and untreated burns, according to its website.Cure International, a Christian organization, started in 1998 in Kenya and now operates hospitals and programs in 29 countries. The organization focuses on health issues for which treatment is difficult to obtain in the developing world, including club foot, cleft palate and untreated burns, according to its website.
The organization began operating in Afghanistan in 2005, setting up a hospital in West Kabul that now treats around 37,000 patients a year. On Thursday, the gunman in the attack was himself admitted as a patient.The organization began operating in Afghanistan in 2005, setting up a hospital in West Kabul that now treats around 37,000 patients a year. On Thursday, the gunman in the attack was himself admitted as a patient.