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/2013/jan/21/kabul-police-taliban-suicide-attack

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Kabul police officers killed in Taliban suicide attack Kabul police officers killed in Taliban suicide attack
(35 minutes later)
Five suicide bombers stormed Kabul's lightly guarded traffic police headquarters and then bunkered down inside for a nine-hour gun and rocket battle that killed three officers, the second major attack in the heart of the Afghan capital in less than a week. Five suicide bombers stormed Kabul's lightly guarded traffic police headquarters on Monday and fought a nine-hour gun and rocket battle with security forces, killing three traffic officers. All the insurgents were killed.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for both suicide missions, marking a bloody start to 2013 and underlining the insurgency's resources at a time when Nato troops are heading home, and the Afghan and US governments pushing hard for peace talks. It was the second serious attack in the heart of the Afghan capital in less than a week.
Monday's assault began in the freezing pre-dawn darkness, when a group of attackers pulled up to the building in an old Toyota estate car, detonated at least one explosive vest, shot a security guard and rushed inside, security officials said. Within minutes they had fired a rocket at another nearby police compound, although it fell short and hit a mosque, and were exchanging fire with security forces who rushed to the scene. The Taliban claimed responsibility for both attacks, marking a bloody start to 2013 and underlining the insurgency's resources at a time when Nato troops are heading home, and the Afghan and US governments pushing hard for peace talks.
Around an hour later a massive explosion from a car bomb echoed around the city, waking many in Kabul to the grim news of another suicide assault, this time near the city's zoo, parliament, several embassies and a major mosque and religious university. Monday's assault began in the freezing pre-dawn darkness when insurgents pulled up outside the building, detonated a bomb, shot a security guard and rushed inside, security officials said. Within minutes they had fired a rocket at another nearby police compound, although it fell short and hit a mosque, and were exchanging fire with security forces who rushed to the scene.
The assault came less than a week after attackers tried to blast their way into a intelligence compound, although they were all killed within a few minutes, and failed to get inside the heavily guarded headquarters. By contrast the traffic police are not always armed and if they do have a gun it is usually just a pistol, issued to help protect them from the road rage of the city's often intense and reckless drivers, rather than for doing battle with suicidal insurgents. Around an hour later a car bomb exploded, echoing around the city and waking many in Kabul to the grim news of another suicide assault, this time near the city's zoo, parliament, several embassies, a mosque and religious university.
"Only a few guards at the compound had AK-47s," said Sayed Zahir, a 52 year-old who lives near the traffic headquarters and passes it most days. The building is usually milling with people trying to get driving licenses, register their cars or challenge fines, but the attack began so early that it was virtually deserted, and no civilians were killed. Nine were injured, police said. The assault came less than a week after attackers tried to blast their way into a heavily-guarded intelligence compound, but they were all killed within a few minutes and failed to get inside the heavily guarded headquarters. By contrast the traffic police are not always armed and if they are it is usually just a pistol, issued to help protect them from the road rage of the city's often intense and reckless drivers, rather than for doing battle with suicidal insurgents.
The building caught fire after several hours, creating fears that the city's register of cars and driving licenses would be lost. The battle dragged into the afternoon as two or three insurgents, snacking on cakes and energy drinks, managed to hold off Afghan and Nato troops, although two never used their final weapon. "Only a few guards at the compound had AK-47s," said Sayed Zahir, 52, who lives near the traffic headquarters and passes it most days. The building is usually full of people trying to get driving licences, register their cars or challenge fines, but the attack began so early that it was virtually deserted and no civilians were killed. Nine were injured, police said.
"Two were shot before they could detonate their explosives," said the city's police chief General Ayub Salangi. The car bomb, which was heard on the other side of the city, and shattered windows far down the road, was probably rigged to a timer. The building caught fire after several hours, creating fears that the city's register of cars and driving licences would be lost.
The battle dragged into the afternoon as two or three insurgents managed to hold off Afghan and Nato troops.
"Two were shot before they could detonate their explosives," said the city's police chief General Ayub Salangi. The car bomb was probably rigged to a timer.
During hours of fighting Afghan forces closed in on the building, scurrying across the roof as smoke billowed out, while helicopters hovered overhead and Norwegian special forces showered down rockets from a half-built house overlooking the occupied compound.During hours of fighting Afghan forces closed in on the building, scurrying across the roof as smoke billowed out, while helicopters hovered overhead and Norwegian special forces showered down rockets from a half-built house overlooking the occupied compound.
Afghan security forces also kept curious onlookers from harm with a tight cordon around the site of the attack, even in the unpaved lanes of frozen mud in the hills above the tarmacked main roads, where huddles of boys gathered to try and catch glimpses of the attack.Afghan security forces also kept curious onlookers from harm with a tight cordon around the site of the attack, even in the unpaved lanes of frozen mud in the hills above the tarmacked main roads, where huddles of boys gathered to try and catch glimpses of the attack.
Outside the traffic police headquarters bullets flew over an unintentional reminder of Afghanistan's troubled search for peace, a monument to a general who fought rebels in eastern provinces – now a stronghold for Taliban-linked groups – for the government of his day nearly a century ago. Outside the traffic police headquarters bullets flew over a reminder of Afghanistan's troubled search for peace – a monument to a general who fought rebels in eastern provinces (now a stronghold for Taliban-linked groups) for the government of his day nearly a century ago.
The Taliban said they were targeting a nearby compound of foreign police advisers, although that base is several kilometres away. "Our main target was the place where foreign police trainers stay," spokesman Zabihullah Mujiahid said by phone, adding that the second car bomb was intended to kill police and soldiers who first rushed to the scene. The Taliban said they were targeting a nearby compound of foreign police advisers, although that base is several kilometres away. "Our main target was the place where foreign police trainers stay," spokesman Zabihullah Mujiahid said by phone, adding that the second car bomb was intended to kill police and soldiers who first rushed to the scene. Additional reporting by Mokhtar Amiri
Additional reporting by Mokhtar Amiri