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| Afghanistan |
| Taliban suicide bomber strikes at high-level meeting in Afghan north |
| 2011-05-29 |
| The Taliban launched a deadly suicide attack at the governor's compound in the northern province of Takhar today, killing the police chief for northern Afghanistan and the provincial chief of police, and wounding the governor of the province and ISAF's northern commander. The attack took place as top Afghan and Coalition leaders in the north were meeting at the governor's compound in the city of Taloqan, the provincial capital of Takhar. The suicide bomber killed General Dawood Dawood, the top commander for the Afghan National Police in the north; Mawlawi Shah Jahan, the chief of police for Takhar province; the governor's secretary; and a security guard, according to TOLONews. Two German soldiers were also killed, and Major General Markus Kneip, Regional Commander North for the International Security Assistance Force, was wounded in the attack, The Associated Press reported. The governor of Takhar was also wounded. Ten Afghans and an unknown number of Coalition soldiers were also reported to have been wounded in the attack. Many of those wounded are said to have suffered serious burns. The extent of General Kneip's injuries have not been disclosed. ISAF has only confirmed that Kneip "was not killed in the blast," an official told Reuters. The Taliban claimed the attack in Takhar and said the purpose of the strike was to assassinate Afghan leaders who commanded operations in the north. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid made the claim to The Associated Press. In s statement release on its propaganda website, Voice of Jihad, the Taliban claimed the attack was carried out by a "resident of Takhar" named Mujahid Amad-ud-Din. |
| Posted by:tipper |