2 cops killed, 6 injured in Herat ambush, blast

HERAT CITY (PAN): Two policemen were killed and six others, including a district police chief, were injured in a rebel attack followed by a bomb blast in the eastern province of Herat, officials said on Friday.

The police were on a patrol in the Farsi district when they were ambushed by armed insurgents near the district centre, provincial police chief Brig. Gen. Abdul Hameed Hameedi told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Soon after the ambush, a powerful blast took place, killing two policemen and injuring six others, including the Farsi district police chief, Fazl Ahmad, according to Hameedi.

The injured cops were evacuated to an Afghan National Army’s health family in Herat city, the provincial capital.

Meanwhile, a key commander was among five rebels detained by intelligence operatives in the Karkh district, an official said.

The governor’s spokesman Muheeuddin Noori identified the commander as Mullah Saifuddin Daizangi, accused of insurgent activities on the Herat-Badghis highway.

Noor said the detained insurgent leader was involved in planting roadside bombs on the highway, kidnappings, blowing up mobile companies’ towers and intimidating civilians.

The official said intelligence operatives had also detained another two insurgents, including a commander identified as Maulvi Ansari.

Two more individuals accused of threatening traders to pay extortion money had also been arrested, he said.

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