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| Afghan bomber kills 21 policemen | Afghan bomber kills 21 policemen |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A suicide bomb attacker in police uniform has blown himself up inside a police station in Afghanistan, killing at least 21 officers, police said. | A suicide bomb attacker in police uniform has blown himself up inside a police station in Afghanistan, killing at least 21 officers, police said. |
| Many others were wounded in the attack in Tirin Kot, the capital of Uruzgan province in the south of the country. | Many others were wounded in the attack in Tirin Kot, the capital of Uruzgan province in the south of the country. |
| The explosion, which has been described as "very powerful", has also damaged several buildings, police said. | The explosion, which has been described as "very powerful", has also damaged several buildings, police said. |
| Southern Afghanistan is the centre of the Taleban-led insurgency since the US invasion of the country in 2001. | Southern Afghanistan is the centre of the Taleban-led insurgency since the US invasion of the country in 2001. |
| "As a result of the suicide attack on a police unit... 21 police were martyred and eight more wounded," the interior ministry said in a statement. | "As a result of the suicide attack on a police unit... 21 police were martyred and eight more wounded," the interior ministry said in a statement. |
| About 10 other policemen were wounded but released from hospital after being treated, said Juma Gul Himat, the Uruzgan provincial police chief. | About 10 other policemen were wounded but released from hospital after being treated, said Juma Gul Himat, the Uruzgan provincial police chief. |
| He said the bomber had entered the police compound as a group of reservists was training and detonated explosives strapped to his body under his uniform. | He said the bomber had entered the police compound as a group of reservists was training and detonated explosives strapped to his body under his uniform. |
| A Taleban spokesman said his group had carried out the attack. | A Taleban spokesman said his group had carried out the attack. |
| Changing Taleban tactics | |
| Officials say the attack is the worst on the police in recent months in Afghanistan. | Officials say the attack is the worst on the police in recent months in Afghanistan. |
| Separately, a spokesman for the Afghan National Army told the BBC that its soldiers had arrested three men wearing suicide vests in the Dirawoad district, neighbouring Tirin Kot. | Separately, a spokesman for the Afghan National Army told the BBC that its soldiers had arrested three men wearing suicide vests in the Dirawoad district, neighbouring Tirin Kot. |
| Afghan police and soldiers, as well as US and other foreign troops belonging to the Nato-led International Security and Assistance Force (Isaf), are frequent targets of Taleban attacks. | |
| The Taleban have changed tactics since facing foreign troops in open battles two years ago, says the BBC's Ian Pannell in Kabul. | |
| The tactics of insurgents in Iraq are being duplicated, with more suicide bombings, roadside bombs and hit-and-run ambushes, our correspondent says. | |
| Uruzgan province is not as violent as Kandahar or Helmand provinces, adds our correspondent, but the number of attacks there has been growing. | |
| Southern Afghanistan is the main battlefront between the insurgents and the Afghan and foreign forces, but there have been attacks elsewhere in the country, including the capital, Kabul. | |
| As violence in Iraq subsides, the US is considering sending up to 30,000 troops to Afghanistan. |