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ninty · 01-29-2004, 11:10 AM

2 attacks near Kabul kill British soldier
Injure at least 5 people

Canadian Press

Wednesday, January 28, 2004

KABUL -- An explosion Wednesday near the British base in the Afghan capital killed a British soldier and injured several, the deputy commander of the peacekeeping force said, while police said a suicide attack near the city injured five foreigners.

The nearly simultaneous attacks came during a memorial ceremony for a Canadian soldier killed in a suicide attack in Kabul just the day before. An Afghan civilian was also killed. One British soldier was killed near their base, Camp Suitor, said Canadian Maj.-Gen. Andrew Leslie, the deputy commander of the security force, speaking at the end of the memorial service at the Canadian base.

"Initial reports indicate that one of our British comrades lost his life and there have been several injuries," he said, adding that another explosive device was detonated outside the main German base.

A spokesman for the NATO-led security force, Lt.-Col. Joerg Langer, said one British soldier died after a car bomb hit a British patrol at about 11 a.m. local time.

However, the British Defence Ministry in London said there had been no deaths in the attack, but some troops were injured.

Just east of Kabul near the German base, Camp Warehouse, a suicide bomber in a taxi detonated an explosion that injured five foreigners, said Qasim Mangal, a local police chief.

International troops and Afghan authorities closed off the scene of the attack, on the Jalalabad Road, about two kilometres from the Germans' base. From nearby, two burned-out jeeps could be seen - apparently Land Rovers that are used by British troops.

The blast blew out the windows of a bathhouse nearby, sending people scurrying from the showers, said Zulgai, 20, a worker there who like many Afghans uses only one name. He said he had seen three injured foreigners and two Afghans transported from the scene.

"It was a very strong sound," Zulgai said.

The attack Tuesday also wounded three more Canadian troops and eight civilians, including a Frenchman, when the bomber struck the convoy of three open-topped jeeps.

The Taliban had claimed responsibility for the Tuesday attack and alleged it would be the start of a campaign of suicide bombings across the country.

During Wednesday's memorial, at least one of the new blasts was heard during the ceremony that took place as a snowstorm buffeted the city.

Canadian Cpl. Jamie Brendan Murphy of Conception Harbour, Nfld., was killed Tuesday.

Murphy, 26, was on a routine patrol near Kabul just one kilometre from the Canadian base, Camp Julien, on Tuesday morning when a suicide bomber triggered an explosion near his light Iltis vehicle. Murphy expected to go home to his common-law wife in Petawawa, Ont., on Feb. 6, a couple of days earlier than scheduled.

Instead, Murphy's body will begin a long sombre journey from Kabul on Wednesday afternoon aboard a Canadian Forces C-130 Hercules transport plane. He will be accompanied by a few select army friends who will act as pallbearers and sit by his side.

Three of his comrades were injured by shrapnel in the attack but were in good condition. The army flew one soldier to a hospital in Germany Tuesday while the other two remained in Kabul.

The escalating violence comes the same week that President Hamid Karzai signed the country's post-Taliban constitution into law, with hopes that it can help bring the fractured country together after more than two decades of war.

A man identifying himself as a Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility for the attack late Tuesday in a telephone call to The Associated Press.

Mullah Hakim Latifi identified the bomber as Hafiz Abdullah, 22, from Khost province.

Latifi said the attack was the start of a campaign of suicide bombings that "will be continued until the coalition forces leave our country."

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ninty is Offline Major General Posts: 12,683 Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Calgary	01-29-2004, 11:10 AM 2 attacks near Kabul kill British soldier Injure at least 5 people Canadian Press Wednesday, January 28, 2004 KABUL -- An explosion Wednesday near the British base in the Afghan capital killed a British soldier and injured several, the deputy commander of the peacekeeping force said, while police said a suicide attack near the city injured five foreigners. The nearly simultaneous attacks came during a memorial ceremony for a Canadian soldier killed in a suicide attack in Kabul just the day before. An Afghan civilian was also killed. One British soldier was killed near their base, Camp Suitor, said Canadian Maj.-Gen. Andrew Leslie, the deputy commander of the security force, speaking at the end of the memorial service at the Canadian base. "Initial reports indicate that one of our British comrades lost his life and there have been several injuries," he said, adding that another explosive device was detonated outside the main German base. A spokesman for the NATO-led security force, Lt.-Col. Joerg Langer, said one British soldier died after a car bomb hit a British patrol at about 11 a.m. local time. However, the British Defence Ministry in London said there had been no deaths in the attack, but some troops were injured. Just east of Kabul near the German base, Camp Warehouse, a suicide bomber in a taxi detonated an explosion that injured five foreigners, said Qasim Mangal, a local police chief. International troops and Afghan authorities closed off the scene of the attack, on the Jalalabad Road, about two kilometres from the Germans' base. From nearby, two burned-out jeeps could be seen - apparently Land Rovers that are used by British troops. The blast blew out the windows of a bathhouse nearby, sending people scurrying from the showers, said Zulgai, 20, a worker there who like many Afghans uses only one name. He said he had seen three injured foreigners and two Afghans transported from the scene. "It was a very strong sound," Zulgai said. The attack Tuesday also wounded three more Canadian troops and eight civilians, including a Frenchman, when the bomber struck the convoy of three open-topped jeeps. The Taliban had claimed responsibility for the Tuesday attack and alleged it would be the start of a campaign of suicide bombings across the country. During Wednesday's memorial, at least one of the new blasts was heard during the ceremony that took place as a snowstorm buffeted the city. Canadian Cpl. Jamie Brendan Murphy of Conception Harbour, Nfld., was killed Tuesday. Murphy, 26, was on a routine patrol near Kabul just one kilometre from the Canadian base, Camp Julien, on Tuesday morning when a suicide bomber triggered an explosion near his light Iltis vehicle. Murphy expected to go home to his common-law wife in Petawawa, Ont., on Feb. 6, a couple of days earlier than scheduled. Instead, Murphy's body will begin a long sombre journey from Kabul on Wednesday afternoon aboard a Canadian Forces C-130 Hercules transport plane. He will be accompanied by a few select army friends who will act as pallbearers and sit by his side. Three of his comrades were injured by shrapnel in the attack but were in good condition. The army flew one soldier to a hospital in Germany Tuesday while the other two remained in Kabul. The escalating violence comes the same week that President Hamid Karzai signed the country's post-Taliban constitution into law, with hopes that it can help bring the fractured country together after more than two decades of war. A man identifying himself as a Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility for the attack late Tuesday in a telephone call to The Associated Press. Mullah Hakim Latifi identified the bomber as Hafiz Abdullah, 22, from Khost province. Latifi said the attack was the start of a campaign of suicide bombings that "will be continued until the coalition forces leave our country."