Eight killed in suicide bomb blast

[bemildred]

Source: AFP

A suicide bomber wearing an explosives-filled vest Thursday killed eight people and wounded 24 others while targeting a private security convoy in an eastern Afghan town, an official said.

"This was a suicide attack. So far we know that eight people are dead, but that figure could change," said Rohullah Samon, a spokesman for the governor of Paktia province.

The attack happened in Gardez, the provincial capital, at 4:30pm local time, outside a branch of the Kabul Bank when the suicide bomber approached on foot.

"The head of a security company... was moving with his convoy when he was attacked by a suicide bomber wearing a suicide vest," Mr Samon said.

Read more: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/08/2787854.htm?section=world

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1. 'Nine killed' in suspected Afghanistan suicide bombing

A suspected suicide bomber has attacked a market in the south-eastern Afghanistan city of Gardez, killing at least nine people, reports say.

A spokesman for the provincial governor said the targets of the attack were apparently Afghan security officials.

Reuters news agency reported those killed included the security commander for neighbouring Logar province, his brother, and three bodyguards.

Reports say a further 24 people were wounded in the blast.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8446094.stm

[Turborama]

2. NYT: Suicide Attack Leaves 10 Dead (4 of them children) in Southeast Afghanistan

By DEXTER FILKINS and ABDUL WAHEED WAFA
Published: January 7, 2010

KABUL, Afghanistan — A suicide bomber attacking a pro-government militia commander detonated his bomb-laden vest in a southeastern provincial capital, Gardez, on Thursday, and witnesses said he killed 10 people and wounded 27, most of them civilians. Also on Thursday, the governor of a neighboring province survived a bomb attack.

In Gardez, capital of Paktia Province, witnesses said the suicide bomber walked up to the commander, Nasir Paray, who leads one of the many pro-government armed groups in the area, and detonated his vest. The commander died in the blast, which also killed four children.

Full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/08/world/asia/08afghan.html?ref=world


Associated Press
Afghan policemen secured the scene where a suicide bomber on foot attacked a convoy of guards
who provide security for international forces in Gardez, Afghanistan, on Thursday.