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| Afghanistan |
| Suicide Bomber Wounds 7 at Khost Hospital Opening |
| 2007-02-24 |
| FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan – Seven U.S. Soldiers were wounded Tuesday, when a suicide bomber detonated himself during the opening ceremony of a new emergency section of the Khost City Hospital in the city of Khowst, Khost Province. As the ceremony was about to begin, the bomber, dressed as a medical professional was stopped by Afghan National Police inside the compound. As he was being questioned he took off running towards the ceremony. As ANP forces chased the suspect, Coalition forces verbally instructed him to stop. When he did not, they engaged with small arms fire, hitting the bomber several times. A U.S. Soldier wrestled him to the ground, restraining him long enough to allow the crowd of people to move safely away. He was able to break free from the bomber prior to the explosion. He sustained only minor injuries from the blast. Two of the seven injured Soldiers have been medically evacuated to Forward Operating Base Salerno where they are listed in stable condition. Army Cpl. Anthony Rush, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 321st Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, who witnessed the event, said “The people were running everywhere and it was difficult at first to figure out what was happening. It was a failed attempt by the enemy.” Dr. Kamal, an Afghan physician at the ceremony, said he could not believe these things were happening. “These people are the enemy of Afghanistan. They do not want to see the progress of the people, and they will do everything they can to stop it. Thanks to the Coalition forces that… they shoot and stopped this man and saved the lives of Afghan people.” “If it was not for the actions of the Afghan Security Forces many innocent Afghans would have been killed”, said Army Lt. Col. Scottie Custer, commander of 2nd Bn., 321st AFAR. Custer was attending the event as a guest of the Khost governor. “This is a great example of the people of Afghanistan saying no to fear and intimidation. The actions of Afghan National Police and the U.S. Soldiers who were assisting in security, saved the lives of many innocent people”, said Army Col. Martin P. Schweitzer, commander of TF Fury. “These local police officers and soldiers are Afghan heroes” said Schweitzer. The emergency facility is an Afghanistan government led project that is to bring much needed medical care to the people of Khost. |
| Posted by:Bobby |
| #5 When he did not, they engaged with small arms fire, hitting the bomber several times. They need to use something with more knock down power. |
| Posted by: Chiper Threreger8956 2007-02-24 22:26 |
| #4 Why in hell didn't someone pop this guy with a head shot so no one else would have been injured? I guess you had to be there. |
| Posted by: DanNY 2007-02-24 20:03 |
| #3 And you SGT Rush. |
| Posted by: newc 2007-02-24 17:56 |
| #2 Bless your heart COL. |
| Posted by: newc 2007-02-24 17:56 |
| #1 Army Lt. Col. Scottie Custer hmmmm .... |
| Posted by: Frank G 2007-02-24 16:35 |