Seven people were killed Saturday in a suicide bombing in northern Afghanistan, including the police commander for the North, General Mohammad Daud Daud, another senior police official and three German soldiers, according to official sources.
The attack was committed right in the complex that houses the governor’s office, following a working meeting attended by many Afghan officials and NATO forces commander for the North, who survived.
“Seven people were killed (…), three German soldiers and four Afghans, including police commander Gen. Daud (Takhar Province)”, said spokesman for the northern Takhaz governor, Faiz Mohammad Tawhid.
The governor of Takhar, Abdul Jabar Taqwa, was injured, according to his spokesman.
Twelve people were injured, according to spokesman of Interior Ministry, Zemarai Bashary.
NATO forces commander for Northern Region, German General Markus Kneip, was “in the building” when the attack occurred and “survived”, said a spokesman for the NATO Force (ISAF), refusing to say whether he was injured.
A suicide bomber detonated the explosive charge in the a hallway of the building when the participants exited the meeting, administrative services officer, governorate Qutbudin Kamal, a witness to the explosion, said.
Taliban insurgents, fighting against the Afghan government and international forces that support it since they were removed from power in late 2001 by an international coalition, claimed the attack.
“One of our mujahideen committed suicide within the complex of the governor of Takhar, while they were running a meeting on security”, said one of their spokesmen, Zabihullah Mujahid.
“Most (participants) were killed, including General Daud, who presided over the meeting, police chief (Takhar Province), as well as German and American soldiers, he said.