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| Afghanistan | ||
| 8 linked to UN attack arrested | ||
| 2009-10-31 | ||
| Authorities have arrested eight people, including one in Saudi Arabia, in connection with this week's deadly attack on a guest house used by United Nations employees, the Afghan intelligence chief said Saturday. He said those arrested claimed the assailants came from Pakistan's Swat Valley. Amrullah Saleh also told reporters that Afghan intelligence had advance information that a Taliban attack in Kabul was in the works but was expected during rush hour. Instead, the attackers struck just before dawn Wednesday, killing eight people -- five of them United Nations foreign staffers. The three assailants also died.
He said Aghan authorities had no evidence that the assailants were from Pakistan apart from statements made by the detainees. The Swat Valley fell under Taliban control until Pakistani forces pushed out the militants in an offensive last spring. Saleh said the guest house attack was directed by an al-Qaida operative known as Ajmal who fled to the Waziristan area of northwest Pakistan. Pakistani troops have launched an offensive in South Waziristan, stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban.
"We were aware of the attack in Kabul city one week before," Saleh said. "Based on our information were able to prevent a part of the attack, by arresting of some of their men and disrupting their plans." | ||
| Posted by:ed |