Peace troops die in suicide attack on bus

Published on 07/06/2003 01:00

A SUSPECTED suicide bomber attacked a bus carrying German peacekeepers through Afghanistan today, killing as many as six people and wounding many more.

Afghan police have said the bomber used a taxi for the attack, the deadliest so far against peacekeepers working in the country, in the capital Kabul.

The International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, bus was travelling with 33 people on board from the airport toward eastern Kabul, near the city’s customs house when the bomb exploded.

Police said the bomb had exploded near the bus.

According to US officials at least three soldiers are known to have died but they said they believed the total could be five or six killed and about 11 wounded.

There were also reports of a further 28 people being injured although their identities and where they were in relation to the bus was unknown.

Major Sarah Wood, an ISAF spokeswoman, confirmed there were casualties aboard the vehicle, "some of which we believed are ISAF".

As she spoke, a large German military helicopter landed in the road near the site of the explosion and not far from the base that houses German and Dutch troops in Afghanistan.

Soon after the explosion, dozens of German peacekeepers formed a cordon around the street, not allowing any vehicles to pass, including that of Kabul’s deputy police chief Amin Khalilzada.

Eye witnesses described a chaotic scene, with bits of metal strewn around after the blast. "The explosion made a very loud noise. It shook all of our shops," said Fawad Ahmad, who works at a tire repair shop near the site of the explosion.

While the number of peacekeepers killed and injured in the attack was not confirmed, it appeared to be the deadliest assault on peacekeepers since they arrived in Afghanistan to bring peace and security to the capital following the fall of the hardline Taliban regime.