Truck bombing kills two Afghan security guards at U.S. military base

[News_Editor]

Truck bombing kills two Afghan security guards at U.S. military base

2011-08-18 12:30:17 GMT+7 (ICT)

GARDEZ, AFGHANISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- Two Afghan security guards were killed on early Thursday morning when a truck bomb hit a U.S. military base in eastern Afghanistan, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said.

The attack happened at around 7 a.m. local time when a suicide bomber detonated his truck filled with explosives at the gate of a U.S. military base near Gardez, the capital of Paktia province.

"Insurgents attempted to gain access to a coalition base near Gardez this morning," said Master Sgt. Nicholas Conner, a spokesman at ISAF's Regional Command East. "Failing to pass through the preliminary security gates, the driver detonated the explosives, killing two Afghan security guards."

Conner said no coalition service members were killed but did not say whether any were injured. "Base officials have secured the scene and are assessing the full extent of the damage," he added.

Although the claim could not be independently confirmed, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack, saying several enemy soldiers were killed. The Taliban however frequently claim credit for attacks which were not carried out by the group.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-08-18