Suspected suicide bomber arrested in Nigerian capital city

ABUJA, May 21 (Xinhua) -- A suspected suicide bomber was arrested by police in the Nigerian capital Abuja on Monday afternoon, according to the Abuja Radio House.

Local sources told Xinhua that the suspected bomber was caught with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at the Abuja Radio House, where the Federal Ministry of Information is situated.

The Radio House also plays host to ministers in activities to mark this year's May 29 Democracy Day.

The chief security officer attached to the Radio House, James Akindele, said the suspect was arrested at the main entrance.

"This afternoon, our operatives arrested a man with rounds of 7. 7 mm live ammunition and three 86 hand grenades, all concealed in a polythene bag and put in a black bag," Akindele said.

Read More

video of the today suicide attack in Yemen military parade

video is on the bottom of the page
from BBC:

At least 63 people have been killed in a suicide bomb attack during a rehearsal for a military parade in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, officials say.

The assailant, who was reportedly wearing army uniform, blew himself up among a group of soldiers at al-Sabin Square, near the presidential palace.

An al-Qaeda source told the BBC one of its members had carried out the attack.
It was the deadliest incident in the capital since President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi took power in February.

"We were in a parade, suddenly there was a huge explosion. Dozens of our men were killed. We tried to help them," Col Amin al-Alghabati told the Reuters news agency.

"The suicide bomber was dressed in a military uniform. He had a belt of explosives underneath," he added.

Another soldier, Ahmed Sobhi, told the Associated Press: "This is a real massacre. There are piles of torn body parts, limbs and heads. This is unbelievable."

Medical sources told the AFP news agency that at least 96 soldiers had been killed and 300 wounded, who they said were being treated in seven hospital across Sanaa.

It is not clear if the attacker had been taking part in the drill or had walked up to the soldiers shortly before detonating his bomb.

But the attack happened shortly before Defence Minister Nasser Ahmed and the army chief-of-staff were expected to greet the troops, officials said. Neither was injured.

Most of the casualties were from the Central Security Organisation, a paramilitary force commanded by Yahya Saleh, a nephew of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

They had been practising for a parade for National Unity Day on Tuesday, which marks the anniversary of the 1990 unification of the Marxist People's Democratic Republic of Yemen - also known as South Yemen - and the Yemen Arab Republic, known as North Yemen.

"Yemenis must stand together in the face of this deadly terrorist threat," Brig Karim Nahil said. "We will celebrate our unity tomorrow with the blood of our martyrs on our hands and faces."


Video of the suicide attack that targeted a company of  Yemeni soldiers at least 70 killed 100 injured:

Related articles

• Deadly suicide bombing in Yemen (bbc.co.uk)
• Suicide bombing attacks Yemeni security soldiers, 50 killed (sgt-jim.blogspot.com)
• At least 40 killed in Yemen suicide bombing: military official (dailystar.com.lb)
• Death toll in Yemen bombing rises to 38 soldiers (wtvm.com)
• Yemen: 'Scores Killed In Suicide Bombing' (news.sky.com)

Read More

Five private guards killed in Zabul blast

QALAT (PAN): Five guards of a private security company were killed on Monday when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb in the Shahr-i-Safa district of southern Zabul province, an official said.

The bombing occurred in the afternoon, said Khadi Khan, the town’s administrative head. The guards were escorting a convoy of vehicles carrying supplies for NATO-led troops.

Security forces launched a search operation in the area, but so far no arrest could be made in connection with the attack, Khan added.

Eyewitness Abdul Muqeem said it was a powerful explosion that destroyed the vehicle of the security guards. The blast was followed by gunshots at the scene, he added.

from Pajhwok
by Naseem Hotak

Read More

5 armed insurgents killed and 14 others arrested by ANP

Publish Date: May 21, 2012

Five armed insurgents killed and 14 others arrested by Afghan National Police

Counterterrorism:

During the past 24 hours, Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army, NDS and Coalition Forces launched seven joint clearance operations in Kabul, Parwan, Kandahar, Helmand and Zabul provinces.

As a result of these operations, five armed insurgents were killed and 14 others were arrested by Afghan National Police.

Also, during these operations, Afghan National Police discovered and confiscated 10 different types of mines, 110 kilograms of opium and 254 kilograms of ammonium nitrate.

During the same 24 hour period, Afghan National Police discovered and defused two anti-vehicle mines as a result of security operations in Paktiya and Herat provinces.

Afghan National Police are working diligently with local leaders and the public to prevent these types of acts from killing and wounding innocent civilians and security forces.

Crimes:
The 101 Kabul Zone National Police detained five individuals accused of theft, assault and carrying illegal weapon without license in the 2nd, 7th, 8th and 9th Districts of Kabul-City.

Working together, we can defeat criminals and create a safer more prosperous future.

Read More

Suicide bombing attacks Yemeni security soldiers, 50 killed

SANAA, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Several suicide bombers blew themselves up among security soldiers who were practising for a military parade in Yemen's capital of Sanaa on Monday, killing some 50 people, police officials said.

Police officials told Xinhua that at least 50 soldiers were killed after a number of suicide bombers targeted the soldiers in al-Sabeen square, a few meters northwest of the presidential palace.

The parade was scheduled for Tuesday to mark Yemen's 22nd anniversary of reunification.

Officials said the suicide bombers wearing security uniform blew themselves up among the soldiers when they marched through al- Sabeen square. They said the attack bore the hallmark of the al- Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, the Yemen's resurgent terrorist off-shoot.

The explosion occurred when Yemen's defense minister and chief of staff of the army arrived at the square, however, they survived the suicide bombing.

The injured have been taken to nearby hospitals for treatment, according to the police.

Witnesses said human remains were scattered across the explosion site and policemen have cordoned off the scene.

According to sources from the defense ministry, the ministry received intelligence last week that unidentified militants were planning to carry out suicide car bombing attack in Sanaa.

Monday's attack is most deadly one since President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi took over power in February. He pledged that large- scale attacks will continue to strike al-Qaida bastions "until we have eradicated their presence in every village."

It also comes 10 days into a massive army offensive against Al- Qaeda in Yemen's restive southern Abyan province, where the jihadists have seized control of a string of towns and cities in attacks launched since last May.

With the support of the U.S. experts and drones, the Yemeni government has launched an "all-out offensive" against al-Qaida militants for nine days in the southern province of Abyan.

The ongoing fighting has left more than two hundred people from both sides killed, while thousands of civilians have fled to neighboring provinces of Aden and Lahj.

Related articles

• Yemen: 'Scores Killed In Suicide Bombing' (news.sky.com)
• Deadly suicide bombing in Yemen (bbc.co.uk)

Read More

Clash leaves Afghan police dead, wounds 3

TRINKOT, Afghanistan, May 21 (Xinhua) -- A police constable was killed and three others sustained injuries as gun battle erupted with Taliban militants in Uruzgan province 370 km south of capital Kabul on Monday, police spokesman in the province said.

"The clash erupted in Albakan village outside provincial capital Trinkot city this morning when Taliban rebels opened fire on police patrol and police retaliated during which one police constable was martyred and three others wounded," Farid Ayal told Xinhua.

Several Taliban militants were also killed in the firefight lasted for two hours, he said. However, he failed to give the exact number of causalities inflicted to the Taliban, stating several insurgents were killed.

Taliban militants fighting Afghan and NATO-led troops are yet to make comment.

Read More

11 Taliban insurgents killed in operations in Afghanistan

KABUL, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Up to 11 Taliban insurgents have been killed in joint Afghan forces and NATO-led coalition troops operations within the past 24 hours elsewhere in the country, authorities said on Monday.

"Afghan National Police (ANP), Afghan National Army, NDS or Afghan intelligence agency and Coalition Forces launched seven joint cleanup operations in Kabul, Parwan, Kandahar, Helmand and Zabul provinces killing five armed Taliban insurgents and capturing 14 other suspects over the past 24 hours," the Afghan Interior Ministry said in a statement.

They also found and seized weapons, the statement said, without saying if there were any casualties on the side of security forces.

Another six insurgents were killed during an armed clash in Kamdesh district of eastern Kunar province over the same period of time, the NATO-led coalition or International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said in a press release on Monday.

In another development, the joint forces captured a Taliban weapons facilitator in southern Kandahar province earlier Monday.

"An Afghan and coalition security force detained a Taliban facilitator during an operation in Zharay district, Kandahar province, today," the ISAF said in the release, adding "The facilitator supplied insurgents in the district with weapons, ammunition and equipment for attacks against Afghan and coalition troops."

The Taliban insurgent group, who announced on May 2 that they would launch a spring rebel offensive starting from May 3 to target Afghan forces as well as U.S. and NATO troops across the country, have yet to make comments.

Afghan forces and some 130,000 NATO-led coalition troops have intensified cleanup operations against Taliban and other militant groups throughout the country since the beginning of spring.Over 780 insurgents have been killed and more than 1,430 others detained in the country so far this year, according to the Afghan Interior Ministry.

However, Taliban responded by carrying out suicide bombings and roadside bomb attacks.

Two NATO soldiers were killed and six children were injured when Taliban launched a suicide bombing in southern Uruzgan province on Saturday while a civilian was killed and three others injured when their vehicle touched off a roadside bomb in eastern Ghazni province also on Saturday.

Read More

May 21., 2012. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan – Afghan and coalition forces killed six insurgents during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, May 20.

Kunar province
Afghan National Army soldiers, Afghan Local Police and coalition forces killed six insurgents during an engagement in Kamdesh district. One ALP was wounded during the engagement, but was medically treated and returned to duty.

Ghazni province
An Afghan civilian’s vehicle struck an insurgent improvised explosive devise killing one Afghan civilian and wounding three others in Qarah Bagh district. The wounded were medically evacuated to a nearby base for treatment.

Operations in RC-East are still ongoing.

Read More

May 21., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan and coalition security force detained a Taliban facilitator during an operation in Zharay district, Kandahar province, today.

The facilitator supplied insurgents in the district with weapons, ammunition and equipment for attacks against Afghan and coalition troops.

He also coordinated suicide bombings and indirect fire attacks against Afghan police compounds and checkpoints throughout Zharay.

The security force also detained two other insurgents and discovered 11 pounds (five kilograms) of illegal narcotics.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

North

In Baghlan-e-Jidid district, Baghlan province, an Afghan and coalition security force executed an operation to locate a possible weapons storage facility Friday. As a result of the mission, the forces detained several insurgents, seized explosives and weapons, and destroyed an opium field. All of the seized weapons and explosives were destroyed on site.

South

In Panjwa-i district, Kandahar province, an Afghan and coalition security force discovered a drug cache during a counter-narcotics operation yesterday. The cache consisted of approximately 1,500 pounds (680 kilograms) of hashish. Security forces destroyed the drugs without incident.

Read More

26 including security personnel killed in Farah

FARAH CITY (PAN): Twenty  Taliban fighters and six security personnel were killed during a four-day operation by Afghan soldiers and police in the southwestern province of Farah, officials said on Sunday.

Fifteen insurgents and three security officials were wounded  during the offensive in Bala Baluk district, the deputy police chief, Col. Mohammad Ghaus Malyar, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

The operation targeted 300 militants who planned attacks on police check-posts in the district, he said, adding Afghan forces were able to thwart the militant plot. The bodies of some guerrillas were taken to the district centre.

District police chief, Col. Abdul Manan Rashidi said some residents fled the area when clashes between guerrillas and Afghan forces erupted. But the people started returning after the operation ended this afternoon.

Although local police said no civilians had so far been killed or wounded, resident Basir claimed three people were injured in Shewan village.

Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi said about 200 fighters clashed with government forces, killing 19 security personnel. The spokesman added only one rebel was killed and another wounded.

from Pajhwok
by Zahin

Read More