Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KABUL5824
2006-12-12 16:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:
PRT LASHKAR GAH: SUICIDE BOMBING INCIDENT AT
how-toVZCZCXRO3117 OO RUEHDBU DE RUEHBUL #5824 3461606 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 121606Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY KABUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4838 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHMFISS/COMSOCCENT MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 3386
C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 005824
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SCA/A, S/CRS, SA/PB, S/CT,
EUR/RPM
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
NSC PASS TO NSA FOR AHARRIMAN
OSD FOR KIMMITT
CENTCOM FOR CFC-A, CG CJTF-76, POLAD, JICCENT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER ASEC MARR AF
SUBJECT: PRT LASHKAR GAH: SUICIDE BOMBING INCIDENT AT
GOVERNOR'S COMPOUND
C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 005824
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SCA/A, S/CRS, SA/PB, S/CT,
EUR/RPM
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
NSC PASS TO NSA FOR AHARRIMAN
OSD FOR KIMMITT
CENTCOM FOR CFC-A, CG CJTF-76, POLAD, JICCENT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER ASEC MARR AF
SUBJECT: PRT LASHKAR GAH: SUICIDE BOMBING INCIDENT AT
GOVERNOR'S COMPOUND
1. (SBU) At 1250hrs on December 12, an explosion occurred
inside the Helmand Governor's compound in Lashkar Gah, within
the courtyard but outside the building. It appears that a
suicide bomber was responsible. One account reports that one
of the guards was trying to usher the bomber away from the
building,s entrance when the device detonated. Eight were
killed, excluding the bomber, all Afghan: five Afghan
National Police (ANP) and three civilians. Approximately
eight were injured, all Afghan.
2. (SBU) Governor Daud was inside his compound when the bomb
detonated; according to one report he was not far from the
entrance to the courtyard, possibly on his way out of the
building for lunch. He was unharmed, though members of his
close protection team might have been among the dead or
injured. (NOTE: President Karzai decided to relieve Daud and
his deputy of their offices o/a December 5 although no
official announcement has been issued yet; after leaving
Helmand with his family, Daud returned on December 10,
presumably to ensure a smooth transition to a new governor.
END NOTE.) The Deputy Governor, also in the building at the
time, was likewise uninjured. Two UK military liaisons
working with the Joint Provincial Coordination Center were in
the building; neither was injured.
3. (SBU) The Poppy Elimination Program (PEP) compound,
located next to the Governor,s, was hit by some shrapnel
(and human flesh). Some windows in the building were broken
or cracked. There were no injuries to PEP personnel.
USAID,s Alternative Livelihoods Program (ALP) compound,
located two blocks away from the Governor,s compound,
reported no damage or injuries, just some rattling windows.
The USAID representative in the PRT and one ALP staff member
were supposed to have a meeting with the Governor that
morning, but it was canceled.
4. (SBU) According to the BBC, the Taliban claimed
responsibility for the attack, saying that they had targeted
the Governor and that the bomber was a native of Helmand.
The Ministry of Information and Culture will release a
statement, denouncing the incident as a cowardly and
indiscriminate act that slows development in the province and
will link it to foreign Taliban.
5. (SBU) This was the fourth suicide bombing incident in
downtown Lashkar Gah in less than four months, and the second
one in the immediate vicinity of the Governor,s compound.
Dozens of Afghans have been killed and injured in these
incidents, and one British soldier was killed.
NEUMANN
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SCA/A, S/CRS, SA/PB, S/CT,
EUR/RPM
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
NSC PASS TO NSA FOR AHARRIMAN
OSD FOR KIMMITT
CENTCOM FOR CFC-A, CG CJTF-76, POLAD, JICCENT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER ASEC MARR AF
SUBJECT: PRT LASHKAR GAH: SUICIDE BOMBING INCIDENT AT
GOVERNOR'S COMPOUND
1. (SBU) At 1250hrs on December 12, an explosion occurred
inside the Helmand Governor's compound in Lashkar Gah, within
the courtyard but outside the building. It appears that a
suicide bomber was responsible. One account reports that one
of the guards was trying to usher the bomber away from the
building,s entrance when the device detonated. Eight were
killed, excluding the bomber, all Afghan: five Afghan
National Police (ANP) and three civilians. Approximately
eight were injured, all Afghan.
2. (SBU) Governor Daud was inside his compound when the bomb
detonated; according to one report he was not far from the
entrance to the courtyard, possibly on his way out of the
building for lunch. He was unharmed, though members of his
close protection team might have been among the dead or
injured. (NOTE: President Karzai decided to relieve Daud and
his deputy of their offices o/a December 5 although no
official announcement has been issued yet; after leaving
Helmand with his family, Daud returned on December 10,
presumably to ensure a smooth transition to a new governor.
END NOTE.) The Deputy Governor, also in the building at the
time, was likewise uninjured. Two UK military liaisons
working with the Joint Provincial Coordination Center were in
the building; neither was injured.
3. (SBU) The Poppy Elimination Program (PEP) compound,
located next to the Governor,s, was hit by some shrapnel
(and human flesh). Some windows in the building were broken
or cracked. There were no injuries to PEP personnel.
USAID,s Alternative Livelihoods Program (ALP) compound,
located two blocks away from the Governor,s compound,
reported no damage or injuries, just some rattling windows.
The USAID representative in the PRT and one ALP staff member
were supposed to have a meeting with the Governor that
morning, but it was canceled.
4. (SBU) According to the BBC, the Taliban claimed
responsibility for the attack, saying that they had targeted
the Governor and that the bomber was a native of Helmand.
The Ministry of Information and Culture will release a
statement, denouncing the incident as a cowardly and
indiscriminate act that slows development in the province and
will link it to foreign Taliban.
5. (SBU) This was the fourth suicide bombing incident in
downtown Lashkar Gah in less than four months, and the second
one in the immediate vicinity of the Governor,s compound.
Dozens of Afghans have been killed and injured in these
incidents, and one British soldier was killed.
NEUMANN