Taliban Insurgents In Uniform Storm Bases In Afghanistan, Killing 4

[News_Editor]

Taliban insurgents in uniform storm bases in Afghanistan, killing 4 < br />

2012-06-21 05:08:03 GMT+7 (ICT)

KANDAHAR CITY, AFGHANISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- Eleven insurgents wearing police and army uniforms stormed NATO and Afghan bases in southern Afghanistan on Tuesday morning, killing at least four people and injuring others, officials said on Wednesday. A Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility.

The first attack occurred at around 3:30 a.m. local time when seven insurgents wearing Afghan military uniforms breached the outer perimeter of a joint Afghan-NATO base in the Shah Wali Kot district of Kandahar province, which is located in the country's south. The attackers were quickly engaged by coalition forces inside.

The assault continued for more than half an hour until the last attacker was killed. Provincial officials said one foreigner, a civilian contractor working for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), was killed and two others were wounded. There were no fatalities among the coalition forces, but at least 10 American service members are believed to have been injured.

Several hours later, at around 6:30 a.m. local time, four insurgents wearing Afghan police uniforms stormed a police compound in Kandahar City. The assault lasted for nearly an hour, resulting in the deaths of three Afghan police officers and all attackers. Seven Afghan police officers were wounded.

The attackers are not believed to have been actual police officers or military service members.

Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi claimed responsibility for both attacks.

"Martyrdom-seekers [..] armed with AKs, PKs, RPGs, hand grenades and explosives vests stormed inside and easily reached the enemy residential barracks where they opened fire on the shocked and unprepared enemy with small arms from a very close range," Ahmadi said regarding the first attack in the Shah Wali Kot district, claiming dozens of NATO and Afghan troops were killed. The Taliban frequently exaggerates details about their attacks for propaganda purposes.

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