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In Afghanistan, Suicide Blast and Angry Crowd Target American Soldiers In Afghanistan, Suicide Blast and Angry Crowd Target American Soldiers
(about 11 hours later)
KABUL, Afghanistan — A convoy of American troops survived a huge suicide bomb attack in Kabul on Tuesday afternoon, only to find themselves struggling against a gathering crowd of Afghans who were trying to tend to civilians wounded in the bombing. KABUL, Afghanistan — A convoy of American troops survived a huge suicide bomb attack in Kabul on Tuesday afternoon, only to find themselves struggling against a gathering crowd of Afghans who were trying to tend to civilians wounded in the bombing.
The confusing scene left one American soldier wounded, possibly by a knife, as Afghans shouted, “Death to Americans,” and accused the soldiers of opening fire on them in the frightening seconds after the suicide attack, according to witnesses. The confusing scene left one American soldier wounded, possibly by a knife, as Afghans shouted, “Death to Americans,” and accused the soldiers of opening fire on them in the frightening seconds after the suicide attack, witnesses said.
The episode hinted at a lingering wellspring of anger against American troops even as the United States’ military presence in Afghanistan is receding. Convoys of heavily armored troop carriers are still spotted routinely in Kabul making shuttle runs between bases and embassies and the airport.The episode hinted at a lingering wellspring of anger against American troops even as the United States’ military presence in Afghanistan is receding. Convoys of heavily armored troop carriers are still spotted routinely in Kabul making shuttle runs between bases and embassies and the airport.
Around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, in the hot midday hours of Ramadan, a suicide attacker detonated a car bomb amid one such convoy, on Airport Road. The blast did not kill or seriously injure any of the soldiers, but it wounded at least 22 Afghans, including passing motorists and roadside shopkeepers, and killed at least one, officials said. Around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, in the hot midday hours, a suicide attacker detonated a car bomb amid one such convoy, on Airport Road. The blast did not kill or seriously injure any of the soldiers, but it wounded at least 22 Afghans, including passing motorists and roadside shopkeepers, and killed at least one, officials said.
What happened next is still being pieced together. But at some point, a member of the crowd attacked and most likely stabbed an American soldier who had exited one of the vehicles to form a cordon, witnesses said. A soldier opened fire, although it was unclear whether the shots came before or after the crowd member’s attack. Some witnesses said the American soldiers, along with Afghan security officials who were nearby, had fired only warning shots.What happened next is still being pieced together. But at some point, a member of the crowd attacked and most likely stabbed an American soldier who had exited one of the vehicles to form a cordon, witnesses said. A soldier opened fire, although it was unclear whether the shots came before or after the crowd member’s attack. Some witnesses said the American soldiers, along with Afghan security officials who were nearby, had fired only warning shots.
“The Americans and N.D.S. were shooting in the air, and nobody was killed by the shooting,” said Salim, 23, a butcher who said he witnessed the scene. The N.D.S. is the National Directorate of Security, the Afghan intelligence service.“The Americans and N.D.S. were shooting in the air, and nobody was killed by the shooting,” said Salim, 23, a butcher who said he witnessed the scene. The N.D.S. is the National Directorate of Security, the Afghan intelligence service.
Another witness, Ghulam Haider, 47, said, “The Americans were firing in the air to disperse the people.”Another witness, Ghulam Haider, 47, said, “The Americans were firing in the air to disperse the people.”
But other witnesses claimed that the bullets ripped through Afghans who had come to treat the wounded. It was this narrative that quickly spread through a gathering crowd of several hundred.But other witnesses claimed that the bullets ripped through Afghans who had come to treat the wounded. It was this narrative that quickly spread through a gathering crowd of several hundred.
“Right afterward, the Americans began shouting at the Afghans to leave, but many of the shopkeepers ran to help the wounded,” said Assadullah Khan, a nearby resident who said he witnessed the events. “An American gunner opened fire at the civilians that killed two and wounded another civilian, angering the entire crowd.”“Right afterward, the Americans began shouting at the Afghans to leave, but many of the shopkeepers ran to help the wounded,” said Assadullah Khan, a nearby resident who said he witnessed the events. “An American gunner opened fire at the civilians that killed two and wounded another civilian, angering the entire crowd.”
Some members of the crowd described the stabbing of the soldier as revenge for the American gunfire. Mr. Khan said that the brother of an Afghan man killed on Tuesday was part of a group that attacked the nearest American soldier. The brother, a butcher by trade, and two other Afghans “attacked the American soldiers who had dismounted from their armored trucks to rescue their fellow soldiers,” said Nangyalai, a 28-year-old man in the crowd. Some members of the crowd described the stabbing of the soldier as revenge for the American gunfire. Mr. Khan said the brother of an Afghan man killed on Tuesday was part of a group that attacked the nearest American soldier.
The brother, a butcher by trade, and two other Afghans “attacked the American soldiers who had dismounted from their armored trucks to rescue their fellow soldiers,” said Nangyalai, a 28-year-old man in the crowd.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing, which could be heard across Kabul and blew out windows hundreds of feet away. But by late afternoon, much of the anger was directed against Americans. Some members of the crowd threw rocks. Others spoke of jihad.The Taliban claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing, which could be heard across Kabul and blew out windows hundreds of feet away. But by late afternoon, much of the anger was directed against Americans. Some members of the crowd threw rocks. Others spoke of jihad.
“Killing innocents permit Muslims to take weapons and stand against enemies of Islam,” said Khalid, 30, who said he witnessed the scene. “You opened fire, killing and wounded our men while they were rushing in to help their family members. This permits jihad. Get out of our country.”“Killing innocents permit Muslims to take weapons and stand against enemies of Islam,” said Khalid, 30, who said he witnessed the scene. “You opened fire, killing and wounded our men while they were rushing in to help their family members. This permits jihad. Get out of our country.”
The N.D.S. arrested a number of men in the crowd, including the butcher believed to have stabbed the soldier, according to Mr. Khan and other witnesses. That seemed to provoke further anger, with the crowd demanding that Afghan security forces on the scene release their countrymen who had stood up against the foreign soldiers. The N.D.S. arrested a number of men in the crowd, including the butcher believed to have stabbed the soldier, said Mr. Khan and other witnesses. That seemed to provoke further anger, with the crowd demanding that Afghan security forces on the scene release their countrymen who had stood up against the foreign soldiers.
A spokesman for the American-led coalition, Col. Brian Tribus, said the episode was under investigation. He added that two service members in the convoy had minor injuries.A spokesman for the American-led coalition, Col. Brian Tribus, said the episode was under investigation. He added that two service members in the convoy had minor injuries.
The suicide bombing wounded at least 22 people and killed one, said a spokesman for the Interior Ministry, Sediq Sediqqi. But witnesses said the death toll was probably higher.The suicide bombing wounded at least 22 people and killed one, said a spokesman for the Interior Ministry, Sediq Sediqqi. But witnesses said the death toll was probably higher.