Nato military base attacked by suicide bomber in Afghanistan

Taliban claims responsibility for truck-bomb that injured 89, including 77 soldiers, at air base in Wardak At least 77 Nato soldiers have been wounded after a suicide bomber drove an explosive-laden truck blew up to a military base. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the bombing, on the eve of the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, making it one of the bloodiest days of the war. The blast tore a six-metre (20ft) hole in the wall of the base in Sayed Abad district of the eastern province of Wardak, after the bombs exploded about 75 metres from the entrance to the base. The truck was filled with nine tonnes of explosives, the Taliban said in a message sent to journalists. It is believed many of the victims were injured by a fire caused by the explosion that occurred at 5pm local time (12.30pm GMT) on Saturday. US army spokesman Major David Eastburn said 50 US soldiers were among a total of 89 wounded but a separate source put the number of US wounded at 77, with 59 of those having to be taken by Medevac helicopter to nearby bases. A statement from the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said “all are being treated and none is immediately life threatening.” The nationalities of the others injured were unknown. Most of the force of the explosion was absorbed by the protective barrier at the outpost entrance but the impact to the compound is readily repairable and operations are continuing,” the statement said. Recent high-profile insurgent attacks have often used a suicide bomb to commence complex attacks but ISAF said there was no attempt by others to enter the base. In Sayed Abad district, about 45 miles south-west of Kabul, insurgents used rocket-propelled grenades last month to bring down a helicopter killing 38 people, including 30 US soldiers. Militants also attacked the US military’s main airport in Afghanistan with rockets. The attack on Bagram airfield killed two Afghan security guards and wounded seven other people, including three US soldiers, a military source said. Two separate bomb attacks in the country’s east and north killed 10 civilians on Saturday, including three women and two children, local officials said. Despite the carnage, the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks was being marked at a ceremony at the US Embassy in Kabul with talk of progress being made. “The last 10 years have not been easy, both the international coalition and Afghans have endured much hardship,” said the commander of foreign military forces in Afghanistan, General John Allen said. “We have reversed the momentum of the insurgents. On this sacred day of remembrance, I can say with confidence that together we’re on the path of success in Afghanistan.” Afghanistan US military United States guardian.co.uk

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