KABUL, Afghanistan — A suicide bomber made his way into a heavily guarded side street deep in the main diplomatic neighborhood of the Afghan capital early on Wednesday and detonated his explosive vest when Afghan security guards demanded his identification. The blast killed three security guards and wounded two civilians, according to police officials.
Col. Dur Mohammed of Police District 10, who confirmed the deaths, said that the bomber was accompanied by another man.
A second police officer, who was not authorized to speak to the press, and witnesses said both men were wearing private security uniforms and suicide vests. When they approached the checkpoint, the guards stopped them and asked for identification and when the men refused, the guards raised their weapons to shoot. It is not clear if the bomber then detonated his vest or if the shooting by the guards set off the bomb.
The Kabul police chief, Gen. Ayoub Mohammed Salangi, said that the guards fired before the attackers reached them.
The three private security guards worked for Burhan Security Company and guarded the Kabul Compound guest house, which is used by American government employees, police officials said.
Among the wounded was the director of foreign relations for the Afghan Defense Ministry, Sayid Asif Agha and his driver, who were driving by at the time of the bombing,.
The blast was powerful enough to blow a hole in the perimeter wall of the guest house and destroy Mr. Agha’s car.
Security guards for other private companies who work in adjacent streets and who rushed to the bomb site expressed dismay that the bombers were able to penetrate so far into a heavily guarded area.
“How could they get so far,” said one guard, who asked not to be named.
The small street where the attack took place is within blocks of the American Embassy and the headquarters for the international forces in Kabul. There there are numerous private security guards and checkpoints on the streets.
Wednesday’s attack was the first suicide bombing in two months. The last was on Sept. 18 when a bomber attacked a mini-bus carrying mostly westerners who were traveling to the airport for work. Fourteen people were killed.
Afghan Suicide Bomber Kills 3 Near U.S. Embassy
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