Policemen among 11 dead in Farah attack

FARAH CITY (PAN): Seven government officials and four militants were killed and 13 people, including nine civilians, injured during a brazen militant attack on the governor’s office in western Farah province on Thursday, officials said.

A private guard of the governor and six policement also died in the morning clash that left more than a dozen people wounded, including three policemen and the governor’s secretary, Mohammad Ghaos Malyar, the deputy police cheif, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

A group of militants wearing border police uniforms launched the attack at about 10:30am, said eyewitnesses. Seven of them, equipped with weapons and suicide vests arrived in a car and shot dead the guards at the gate before forcing their way into the office.

Naqibullah Farahi, the governor’s spokesman, could not say how many assailants were involved in the raid. But he added two attackers detonated their suicide vests, paving way for their accomplices to sneak into the building.

Another suicide attacker entered the governor’s room but was shot dead by Mohammad Yonus Rassouli, the deputy governor. The clash had ended but police and Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers were combing the area for other militants, Farahi added.

He said the governor, who was holding talks with tribal elders from Bala Baluk district, escaped unhurt in the assault.

Abdul Manan Rashidi, head of the provincial hospital, confirmed receiving the bodies of six policemen and 12 injured people. He feared the fatalities might rise as the injured were still being brought to the hospital.

Meanwhile, Taliban claimed responsibility, with their spokesman Qari Yosuf Ahmadi saying the attack was part of their summer offensive, codenamed Al-Farooq, against government officials.

He said the attack was conducted by four bombers, killing more than 17 government employees, including policemen, and wounding several others.

mrh/vp/mud  

Views: 4