4 killed, 14 injured in Karachi suicide bomb explosion

The 18 Towns of Karachi (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

According to Pakistani security officials, at least four people were killed and 14 others were injured following a suicide bomb explosion in Karachi city on Thursday.

Senior police official Rao Anwar said, the incident took place after a suicide bomber detonated his explosives among the participants of a campaign against Islamist militants.

He said, he was the target of the blast, which tore through a busy area lined with market stalls at around 10:30 am (0530 GMT).

Anwar was going with the police convoy to the Malir court to appear in the murder case of ex-Malir Bar Association president Salahuddin whose killing has been attributed to the banned outfit Sipah-e-Sahaba.

According to a bomb disposal official, up to four kilograms (nine pounds) of explosives were used in the device which casused damage to armoured vehicle and vedors’ stalls.

In the meantime witnesses said the attacker, who was riding a motorcycle, first opened fire and then blew himself up near an armoured vehicle in which Special Superintendent of Police Rao Anwar was travelling.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan have claimed responsibility for the suicide bomb attack.

from KHAAMA

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7 killed, 3 injured in oil truck explosion in S. Afghanistan

Afghan policemen investigate at the site of oil truck explosion in the southern Kandahar province, on April 6, 2012. Seven civilians were killed and three others injured Friday morning in an oil truck explosion in Kandahar, police said. (Xinhua/Arghand)

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Seven civilians were killed and three others injured Friday morning in an oil truck explosion in southern Afghan province of Kandahar, police said.

"An oil tanker exploded at around 8:00 a.m. local time Friday along a main road in Khuli Manda area of Panjwai district and the blast led a minibus passing by the area to catch fire," police chief of the district Sardar Mohammad told Xinhua.

He said seven passenger of the minibus including two women were killed and three others injured in the incident.

It was not immediately clear how the truck caught fire and exploded but police has initiated an investigation into the incident, Sardar added.

However, a witness near the site told Xinhua that the truck was attacked by suspected Taliban insurgent fighters.

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Bomber kills provincial peace council head in Afghan east

(Reuters) - A suicide bomber killed the head of a regional peace council on Friday in Afghanistan's east, police said, dealing a fresh blow to the country's attempts to negotiate a peace deal with Taliban insurgents.

Hashim Monib and his son were killed as they left their mosque in Asadabad, the capital of the Kunar province, provincial police chief Ewaz Mohd told Reuters.

"They were on their way home after prayers when the bomber attacked them," he said.

Provincial peace councils, along with the separate 70-member High Peace Council which President Hamid Karzai established two years ago, appear to have made little progress in negotiating with the Taliban to end the war now in its eleventh year.

The council came under attack last year when its chief Burhanuddin Rabbani was assassinated by a suicide bomber.

U.S. diplomats have separately engaged the Taliban in secret discussions abroad leading to an agreement on the establishment of a Taliban office in the Gulf state of Qatar, though the Taliban later suspended the talks, blaming Washington for ignoring its demands.

Fear is mounting amongst Afghans and foreign governments alike that the planned pullout of NATO combat troops by the end of 2014 and Afghan national elections in the same year could see the country engulfed in more conflict and bloodshed.

(Reporting by Hamid Shalizi, writing by Amie Ferris-Rotman; Editing by Ed Lane)

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Suicide bombers die in Aden blast

Yemeni defence ministry says two men killed in blast planned to attack security services building in southern city.

Two suspected suicide bombers have died in an explosion outside an intelligence building in the southern Yemeni city of Aden, according to the country's defence ministry.

The men killed in Friday's blast in the al-Mansoura district were suspected of having links to al Qaeda, the defence ministry said on its website.

"Two suicide bombers belonging to the Al-Qaeda terrorist network were killed when their motorbike exploded... early on Friday in al-Mansoura," it said, adding that the intended target of the attack was a branch of the political security services.

"The bomb-laden motorbike exploded with the two suicide bombers whose bodies were left in pieces before they managed to carry out their suicide attack that targetted a branch of the political security services in Mansura," the website quoted a security official as saying.

No other casualties were reported.

from AlJazeera

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R.I.P. - Capt. Nicholas J. Rozanski, Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey J. Rieck, Sgt. 1st Class Shawn T. Hannon

DOD Identifies Army Casualties

            The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

            They died April 4, in Faryab province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained during an enemy attack by a suicide vehicle borne improvised explosive device.  The soldiers were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Ohio National Guard, Walbridge, Ohio.

            Killed were:

            Capt. Nicholas J. Rozanski, 36, of Dublin, Ohio.

            Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey J. Rieck, 45, of Columbus, Ohio.

            Sgt. 1st Class Shawn T. Hannon, 44, of Grove City, Ohio.

            For more information the media may contact Ohio National Guard Public Affairs at 614-336-7126 or 614-336-4499.

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Sgt. 1st Class Shawn T. Hannon, 44, of Grove City, Ohio died April 4, in Faryab province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained during an enemy attack by a suicide vehicle borne improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Ohio National Guard, Walbridge, Ohio. Shawn also worked as chief legal counsel for the Ohio Department of Veterans Services, joining the state veterans agency last year. He felt it was a privilege to serve his country and did so honorably for almost 20 years. SFC Hannon was a graduate of the Capital University School of Law. He and his wife have a 9-month-old son.


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Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey J. Rieck, 45, of Columbus, Ohio died April 4, in Faryab province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained during an enemy attack by a suicide vehicle borne improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Ohio National Guard, Walbridge, Ohio.






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Capt. Nicholas J. Rozanski, 36, of Dublin, Ohio died April 4, in Faryab province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained during an enemy attack by a suicide vehicle borne improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Ohio National Guard, Walbridge, Ohio. He had been a member of the Ohio National Guard since 2003 and was serving his third deployment.

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Apr.06., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and coalition security force captured an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan facilitator during an operation in Kishim district, Badakhshan province, today.

The facilitator coordinated the construction of suicide bomb vests and directed suicide attacks against Afghan officials and security forces in Kunduz, Badakhshan and Takhar provinces.

Several additional insurgents were also detained and multiple weapons were confiscated.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South

An Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation to capture a Taliban leader in Zharay district, Kandahar province, today. The leader coordinates roadside bomb attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces in Zharay and Panjwa’i districts, and also provides insurgents in the area with weapons and ammunition. The security force detained two suspected insurgents and destroyed multiple grenades as a result of this operation.

In Washer district, Helmand province, an Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation to capture a Taliban leader today. The leader directs roadside bombings and other attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces. The security force detained two suspected insurgents as a result of this operation.

Also in Washer district, an Afghan security force planned and executed a drug interdiction operation with the assistance of coalition forces, Monday. During the operation, the combined force discovered a cache containing more than 1,100 pounds (510 kilograms) of opium. One suspected insurgent was detained and the drugs were destroyed at the scene.

In Maiwand district, Kandahar province, an Afghan security force, supported by coalition forces, planned and executed an operation to seize illegal drugs Tuesday. While conducting the operation the force identified a vehicle being driven in a suspicious manner. A search of the vehicle revealed weapons, a concealed load of 1,870 pounds (850 kilograms) of opium and 64 pounds (29 kilograms) of heroin. Several suspected insurgents were detained and the narcotics were destroyed on site.

A series of Afghan-led operations, supported by coalition forces, recovered drugs and various weapons in Kajaki district, Helmand province, Tuesday. During the operation the force was engaged by groups of insurgents with small arms and heavy weapons fire. The security force returned fire, resulting in numerous insurgents killed. The force also located several narcotics caches containing a total of 550 pounds (250 kilograms) opium and more than 240 pounds (110 kilograms) of poppy seeds. A number of weapons were also seized. The narcotics and the illegal materials were destroyed on site.

East

An Afghan and coalition security force captured a Taliban facilitator during an operation in Zurmat district, Paktiya province, today. The facilitator provided weapons and ammunition to insurgents throughout the district for attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces. The security force detained two additional insurgents as a result of this operation.

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