Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
New York Times
February 1, 2008
Pg. 14
By Taimoor Shah and Carlotta Gall
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — The deputy governor of Helmand Province and five other people were killed by a suicide bomber during afternoon prayers in a mosque in the provincial capital, Afghan officials said. The Taliban claimed responsibility through a spokesman.
The deputy, Hajji Pir Muhammad, was taken to a hospital in the capital, Lashkar Gah, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, a doctor there said. At least 21 people, including a 5-year-old boy, were also treated.
Attacks in mosques during prayers are rare for Afghanistan, where Taliban insurgents and suicide bombers have tended to attack international and Afghan security forces on the roads. There has, however, been at least one such explosion in Kandahar.
The suicide bombing was a clear attack on the government of President Hamid Karzai. Mr. Muhammad’s family has been closely allied to Mr. Karzai.
The bomb went off just after 1 p.m. in a mosque near the governor’s office, said the provincial police chief, Muhammad Hussain Andiwal. He confirmed that six people, including the deputy governor, were killed.
“This is a very cowardly action being carried out in the home of God, where the people come to offer their prayers,” he said. “But fearless and ignorant people are carrying out these suicide attacks, killing innocent people inside a holy and respected place. This is totally against our religion of Islam to blow himself up in the mosque.”
A Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility for the blast, saying the attacker was named Qudratuallah and came from Paktia Province in the east. The target was the deputy governor, the spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahed, said by telephone.
Another blast occurred in Kabul, the capital, at 7 a.m., when a car bomb exploded as an Afghan National Army bus was passing. The bus and officers inside it were unharmed, but one civilian was killed and two others were wounded, said Zemaray Bashary, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry.
A taxi driver, Habib-u-Rahman, saw the explosion and said the bomb was in a red car parked beside the road. He said he saw at least two wounded people.
Taimoor Shah reported from Kandahar, and Carlotta Gall from Kabul. Abdul Waheed Wafa contributed reporting from Kabul.
February 1, 2008
Pg. 14
By Taimoor Shah and Carlotta Gall
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — The deputy governor of Helmand Province and five other people were killed by a suicide bomber during afternoon prayers in a mosque in the provincial capital, Afghan officials said. The Taliban claimed responsibility through a spokesman.
The deputy, Hajji Pir Muhammad, was taken to a hospital in the capital, Lashkar Gah, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, a doctor there said. At least 21 people, including a 5-year-old boy, were also treated.
Attacks in mosques during prayers are rare for Afghanistan, where Taliban insurgents and suicide bombers have tended to attack international and Afghan security forces on the roads. There has, however, been at least one such explosion in Kandahar.
The suicide bombing was a clear attack on the government of President Hamid Karzai. Mr. Muhammad’s family has been closely allied to Mr. Karzai.
The bomb went off just after 1 p.m. in a mosque near the governor’s office, said the provincial police chief, Muhammad Hussain Andiwal. He confirmed that six people, including the deputy governor, were killed.
“This is a very cowardly action being carried out in the home of God, where the people come to offer their prayers,” he said. “But fearless and ignorant people are carrying out these suicide attacks, killing innocent people inside a holy and respected place. This is totally against our religion of Islam to blow himself up in the mosque.”
A Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility for the blast, saying the attacker was named Qudratuallah and came from Paktia Province in the east. The target was the deputy governor, the spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahed, said by telephone.
Another blast occurred in Kabul, the capital, at 7 a.m., when a car bomb exploded as an Afghan National Army bus was passing. The bus and officers inside it were unharmed, but one civilian was killed and two others were wounded, said Zemaray Bashary, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry.
A taxi driver, Habib-u-Rahman, saw the explosion and said the bomb was in a red car parked beside the road. He said he saw at least two wounded people.
Taimoor Shah reported from Kandahar, and Carlotta Gall from Kabul. Abdul Waheed Wafa contributed reporting from Kabul.