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| Dozens killed in Afghan mosque blast | Dozens killed in Afghan mosque blast |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| A suicide bomber has attacked holiday worshippers outside a mosque in northern Afghanistan, killing at least 45 people and injuring more than 60, including a senior police officer. | A suicide bomber has attacked holiday worshippers outside a mosque in northern Afghanistan, killing at least 45 people and injuring more than 60, including a senior police officer. |
| The blast in Maimana, capital of Faryab province, was the deadliest in the country for several months, and a reminder of insurgents' ability to strike far beyond their southern heartland and target officials. | The blast in Maimana, capital of Faryab province, was the deadliest in the country for several months, and a reminder of insurgents' ability to strike far beyond their southern heartland and target officials. |
| The bomber struck as a crowd left morning prayers for the Eid al-Adha holiday. Security was tight because the worshippers included the provincial governor, but the attacker waited for his victims to leave the building. Many police, soldiers and intelligence officials were among the dead and injured. | The bomber struck as a crowd left morning prayers for the Eid al-Adha holiday. Security was tight because the worshippers included the provincial governor, but the attacker waited for his victims to leave the building. Many police, soldiers and intelligence officials were among the dead and injured. |
| "He blew himself up on the road just outside," said Ahmad Jawed Didar, spokesman for the governor of Faryab. Five of the dead were children, and the provincial police chief was wounded, he said. The governor was unharmed. | "He blew himself up on the road just outside," said Ahmad Jawed Didar, spokesman for the governor of Faryab. Five of the dead were children, and the provincial police chief was wounded, he said. The governor was unharmed. |
| "It was a massacre," said Khaled, a doctor who was at the mosque and narrowly escaped the blast. "There was blood and dead bodies everywhere," he told Associated Press. | "It was a massacre," said Khaled, a doctor who was at the mosque and narrowly escaped the blast. "There was blood and dead bodies everywhere," he told Associated Press. |
| Fifteen of the dead and just over half the wounded were civilians, a police spokesman, Lal Mohammad Ahmadzai, said. The rest were from the Afghan security forces. | Fifteen of the dead and just over half the wounded were civilians, a police spokesman, Lal Mohammad Ahmadzai, said. The rest were from the Afghan security forces. |
| The attack came as the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, urged the Taliban to "stop killing other Afghans". "Stop the destruction of our mosques, hospitals and schools," he said in an Eid message to the nation. | The attack came as the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, urged the Taliban to "stop killing other Afghans". "Stop the destruction of our mosques, hospitals and schools," he said in an Eid message to the nation. |
| Afghanistan was on heightened alert for the holiday, with extra checks on vehicles across the country, and patrols by the Afghan army. The Taliban would not claim or deny causing the Faryab bomb. "This issue is under investigation, and I am in touch with the local Taliban," said a spokesman, Qari Yousef Ahmadi. | Afghanistan was on heightened alert for the holiday, with extra checks on vehicles across the country, and patrols by the Afghan army. The Taliban would not claim or deny causing the Faryab bomb. "This issue is under investigation, and I am in touch with the local Taliban," said a spokesman, Qari Yousef Ahmadi. |
| This week the Taliban leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar, urged his fighters to "pay full attention to the prevention of civilian casualties", saying the enemy was trying to blame them on the insurgents. | This week the Taliban leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar, urged his fighters to "pay full attention to the prevention of civilian casualties", saying the enemy was trying to blame them on the insurgents. |
| In July a suicide attacker killed a powerful anti-Taliban leader, security commanders and more than a dozen other guests at a family wedding in neighbouring Samangan province. | In July a suicide attacker killed a powerful anti-Taliban leader, security commanders and more than a dozen other guests at a family wedding in neighbouring Samangan province. |
| It was one of the bloodiest attacks on Afghan military and political leaders in the decade-long war. | It was one of the bloodiest attacks on Afghan military and political leaders in the decade-long war. |
| The Taliban also claimed responsibility on Fridayfor killing two US soldiers in southern f, in what may have been the latest insider attack against western troops. | The Taliban also claimed responsibility on Fridayfor killing two US soldiers in southern f, in what may have been the latest insider attack against western troops. |
| In an emailed statement, Taliban spokesman Yusuf Ahmadi said a member of the Afghan security forces shot the two men the day before, then escaped to join the insurgents. | In an emailed statement, Taliban spokesman Yusuf Ahmadi said a member of the Afghan security forces shot the two men the day before, then escaped to join the insurgents. |
| A series of insider attacks has undermined trust between international troops and Afghan army and police, further weakened public support for the 11-year war in Nato countries, and increased calls for earlier withdrawals. | A series of insider attacks has undermined trust between international troops and Afghan army and police, further weakened public support for the 11-year war in Nato countries, and increased calls for earlier withdrawals. |
| Major Lori Hodge, spokeswoman for US forces in Afghanistan, said on Thursday that authorities were trying to determine whether the latest attacker was a member of the Afghan security forces or an insurgent who donned a government uniform. | Major Lori Hodge, spokeswoman for US forces in Afghanistan, said on Thursday that authorities were trying to determine whether the latest attacker was a member of the Afghan security forces or an insurgent who donned a government uniform. |
| It was the second suspected insider attack in two days. On Wednesday, two British troops and an Afghan policeman were gunned down in Helmand province. | It was the second suspected insider attack in two days. On Wednesday, two British troops and an Afghan policeman were gunned down in Helmand province. |
| Before Thursday's assault, 53 foreigners attached to the US-led coalition had been killed in attacks by Afghan soldiers or police this year. | Before Thursday's assault, 53 foreigners attached to the US-led coalition had been killed in attacks by Afghan soldiers or police this year. |
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