2 guards killed, Italians injured in Herat attack

HERAT CITY (PAN): Two people were killed and six others, including four Italian soldiers, were injured in a car suicide bombing and a subsequent gunbattle in the western province of Herat on Thursday, officials said.

The assault took place at 9am when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives-laden car at the entrance to an Italian company in the industrial park in Guzra district, allowing three others to enter the compound.

The administrative head of the town, Nisar Ahmad Popal, told Pajhwok Afghan News two of Afghan guards of the ESKO international company were killed and as many others were wounded during the four-hour clash.

International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) spokesman in the western zone, Co. Liuro Vincenzo, said four Italian soldiers were injured in the attack on the logistic company.

Confirming the incident, Hamidullah Khadem, chief of Herat’s Industrialists Union, said the target of the onslaught was an Italian firm running a frozen chicken business.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, with their spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi saying several suicide attackers were involved in the assault.

One of them rammed his car into a foreign military base near the airport, allowing other fighters to enter the compound, Ahmadi said, adding a fierce gunbattle was continue until afternoon.

myn/mbg/mud

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