| Submit your comments on this article |
| Afghanistan |
| Weapons, explosives in Afghan village |
| 2002-06-07 |
| In a mud-brick barn used to dry grapes into raisins, U.S. and British troops uncovered a cache of weapons and explosives during a raid on a farming village that soldiers said al-Qaida had turned into a site for planning attacks. About 120 U.S. special forces and British marines swept into Atalay, in southern Afghanistan, in the pre-dawn dark Thursday. They seized four compounds and took 17 people into custody, British Lt. Com. Gary Lydiate said. All but five of the prisoners were later released, U.S. spokesman Roger King said Friday. Those five were thought to have "intelligence value," he said, though they were still being questioned to determine if they were linked to al-Qaida or the Taliban. Troops found weapons, plastic explosives and bomb-making equipment, as well as documents that were being analyzed, King said. Inside the barn several hours after the assault, a pillow and blanket lay on the dirt floor, a kerosene lamp still flickering nearby. "Someone made a hasty escape," said British 2nd Lt. David Spink, one of the first soldiers to enter the barn, standing over the abandoned bedding. "This is not your average farmer with a weapon. We're quite used to farmers with AK-47s. But these explosives are far from the norm." "Well, y'see, we wuz gonna set up as a huntin' lodge, an' start a business as guides, huntin' elk..." |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |