Taqwa says he had prior info about bomb assault

KABUL): The government had prior information regarding the suicide attack on his office in Taloqan, the capital of northern Takhar province, the governor said on Sunday.

They had received an intelligence tip about the attack and the bomber’s mobile phone number Abdul Jabbar Taqwa told a press conference, a day after the brazen assault on a high-level meeting.

Despite stringent security measures to prevent the attack, he said the bomber found his way into the governor’s compound, killing four Afghan police officials, including two senior commanders, and two German soldiers.

Nine Afghan officials, including Taqwa and NATO‘s German commander Gen. Markus Kneip, were wounded.Police chief for the northern zone, Gen. Daud Daud, provincial police head, Brig. Gen. Shah Jehan Noori, were among the dead.

“It was a barbaric and un-Islamic act by the Taliban,” the governor said while condemning the incident. The rebels said the bombing was part of their campaign to assassinate senior government figures.

A delegation from Kabul had launched an investigation into suicide bombing, Taqwa said, hoping the assailant’s identity would be established soon. As a result of the probe, it would become clear how the bomber managed to enter the compound, he said.

As soon the commanders left the meeting hall and got down the second floor, a heavy explosion shook the area, he said. “I fell to the ground and went unconscious. On regaining my senses, I was informed that I have lost good friends — Gen. Daud and Shah Jehan Noori.”

myn/mud

Views: 15