TALIBAN ATTACKED BRITISH SITES IN KABUL
At least nine people have been killed, on Friday 08/19/2011, as a wave of large explosions followed by a standoff rocked a British cultural centre in the Afghan capital Kabul on a public holiday marking the country’s independence from Britain (see also – Kabul 04.27.11)
Two blasts struck the British Council offices in the center of the city at about 5:45am after several fighters infiltrated the compound. In the next seven hours, the Afghan police struggled to gun down the one remaining fighter holed up in the basement of the building.
Britain’s foreign ministry, in a statement, finally confirmed that all the fighters involved in the attack were killed. Reports from Kabul, said the fighters were “extremely well armed” and prepared for a long battle with the police.
The Friday attacks, claimed by the Taliban, come as the country marks its independence from Britain in 1919. While violence continues to rage in many parts of Afghanistan, attacks in the capital are relatively uncommon.
The blast happened when hundreds of people had gathered for Friday prayers at the Mosque in Ghundi village, near the town of Jamrud in the Khyber tribal district (see also – Jamrud 03.27.09)..
“It was a suicide attack. The bomber was wearing about 8-10kg of explosives and was on foot. He detonated in the main prayer hall,” deputy chief Khalid Mumtaz Kundi told the AFP news agency.
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