Five Civilians Caught in Crossfire of Taliban-Police Clash in Herat

Thursday, 31 October 2013 12:07 Written by Faridullah Sahil

alt

Five civilians and an Afghan Local Police (ALP) officer were killed in
a clash between the ALP and Taliban insurgents on Wednesday night in
western Herat province, officials said.

"The incident took place near a bazar in Shindand District of Herat
province at around 5:30pm when Taliban insurgents attacked a Local
Police forces convoy," Herat Provincial Council member Toor Mohammad
Zarifi told TOLOnews.

Zarifi said that five unarmed civilians at the market, including two
men, two women and one child were caught in the crossfire of the gun
battle and killed.

In addition to the police officer that died in the clash, another was wounded.

Zarifi said the victims were rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency
treatment.

There were no reports of insurgent casualties, and the Taliban has not
commented on the incident.

The incident came three days after a bus filled with a group of people
heading to a wedding celebration in Ghazni province struck a roadside
bomb, killing 18 of the passengers including women and children.

The Ghazni bombing received harsh condemnation from around the
country, including statements from President Hamid Karzai, the Ulema
Council and the United Nations who all blamed the Taliban for the
attack despite the group not claiming responsibility.

The Herat clash on Wednesday happened the same day three ANA soldiers
were killed and six others wounded in Sar-e-Pol province when their
convoy hit a roadside bomb.

According to a provincial security official, the soldiers were
ambushed by insurgents after the blast and a clash ensued that
continued for one hour. Reportedly twoTaliban commander was killed and
another wounded.

Authorities reported a separate incident in Helmand on Wednesday in
which seven insurgents were killed and one other wounded in a clash
with the Maiwand 215 ANA Corps.

Dozens of mines also reportedly discovered and disabled by security
forces in Sangin, Nawozad, Nad Ali and Greshk Districts of Helmand
that day.