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| Afghanistan | |
| Afghan MP, 19 others killed in splodydope attack | |
| 2011-12-26 | |
| TALOQAN, Afghanistan: A The attack occurred while prayers were being read at the funeral of an influential tribal leader. All victims were civilians.
Al-Hussain said a member of Parliament, Mutalib Bik, was among the dead and is seen to be the primary target as the attacker came close to him before setting off the bomb. Bik was a former anti-Taleban commander and a former provincial police chief. Takhar does not have any major permanent base for foreign troops. German troops supervise the area from a base in neighboring Kunduz province. "This reprehensible attack on a funeral further illustrates that the Taleban and other insurgents are waging a murderous campaign against innocent Afghan civilians, including women and children," the US Embassy said in a statement. Witnesses said the attacker was around 30 years old and dressed in traditional clothing for the region. President Hamid Karzai strongly condemned the attack. "This attack once again shows the malicious and un-Islamic intentions of the terrorists, who don't even want Muslims in Afghanistan to hold religious ceremonies in a peaceful environment," he said. Officials gave conflicting figures for the casualties. While local police said the death toll was at least 20, Karzai's office put the number at 10. The Interior MMinistry said 19 were killed and 40 wounded. Hundreds of men and women were standing outside the hospital in Taloqan, waiting to hear about their family members as people were being brought in on stretchers into the facility. "Everybody was running when I heard my brother yelling for help," said Hubaidullah, a witness, recalling the explosion. | |
| Posted by:Steve White |