This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/sep/04/afghanistan-suicide-blast-kills-dozens
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan suicide bomber kills dozens at funeral | Afghanistan suicide bomber kills dozens at funeral |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A suicide bomber killed at least 25 civilians and wounded another 30 at a funeral for a village elder in a remote part of eastern Afghanistan, Afghan officials said. | A suicide bomber killed at least 25 civilians and wounded another 30 at a funeral for a village elder in a remote part of eastern Afghanistan, Afghan officials said. |
| Ahmad Zia Abdul Zai, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said the attack took place on Tuesday in the village of Shagai in the Durbaba district of eastern Nangarhar province. Initial reports said at least 10 civilians had been killed. Zai and police later said more than a dozen people died of their injuries. | |
| There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but there has been fighting against Taliban and other insurgents in the mountainous region across the border from some of Pakistan's lawless tribal areas. | There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but there has been fighting against Taliban and other insurgents in the mountainous region across the border from some of Pakistan's lawless tribal areas. |
| Latifullah, the police chief's secretary, who goes by one name, said the target was apparently Durbaba district chief, Hamisha Gul, who was attending the funeral for the village chief and ranking elder. | |
| Gul survived the attack, said deputy police chief for Nangarhar province, Jamil Shamal, but his son was killed when he tried to stop the bomber by grabbing him. | Gul survived the attack, said deputy police chief for Nangarhar province, Jamil Shamal, but his son was killed when he tried to stop the bomber by grabbing him. |
| The Taliban often target government officials at public functions, including funerals and weddings. | The Taliban often target government officials at public functions, including funerals and weddings. |
| Civilians are often the victims of suicide attacks. On 14 August dozens of people were killed in suicide attacks in northern and southern Afghanistan. | Civilians are often the victims of suicide attacks. On 14 August dozens of people were killed in suicide attacks in northern and southern Afghanistan. |
| A recent UN report said 1,145 civilians had been killed and 1,954 others injured during the first half of the year, 80% of them by militants. |