Bombing Targets Canadian Troops - 18 Sep 06

[armyvern]

Posting under the fairdealings copyright....

http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/09/18/bombing-canadians.html

Bombing targets Canadians troops in Afghanistan
Last Updated Mon, 18 Sep 2006 05:52:55 EDT
CBC News

An explosion hit Canadian troops giving candy to children in southern Afghanistan early Monday, causing multiple casualties among coalition troops, NATO said.NATO spokesman Maj. Scott Lundy said it wasn't clear if the explosion was caused by a suicide bomber and said it might have been set off by other means. He wouldn't confirm the nationality of casualties.

Afghan officials said dozens of people were wounded in the attack. The victims were taken to a military hospital, NATO said. The attack occurred in the Panjwaii district of Kandahar province, where a two-week NATO-led operation to rid the area of Taliban ended Sunday.

NATO has said its troops killed more than 500 insurgents in the operation and called it a success even though violence continues in the south. Canada has more than 2,000 soldiers in Afghanistan, mostly in Kandahar.

Thirty-two Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have been killed since the Canadian mission to the country began in 2002.

CBC is now reporting on-air that this was a result of a bomb attached in some manner to a bicycle.

Also reporting on-air that four NATO soldiers have been killed today along with the above story but have not made a direct link between the two. No nationalities released.

 

[The Bread Guy]

Still a mix of reports re:  whether Canadians confirmed killed, or just injured...

Associated Press
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-afghan-nato-attacked,0,7050789.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

Agence France Presse
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/060918/1/43hvm.html|Agence France Presse

Reuters
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyid=2006-09-18T103232Z_01_ISL242604_RTRUKOC_0_UK-AFGHAN-VIOLENCE.xml&src=rss

BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5355478.stm

Forbes.com
http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/afx/2006/09/18/afx3023677.html|Forbes.com

Edit - adding Taliban claiming responsibility....


Taliban claims responsibility for southern Afghan suicide blast
Associated Press via International Herald Tribune, 18 Sept 06
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/09/18/asia/AS_GEN_Afghan_Taliban.php

A purported Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility Monday for a suicide blast that targeted Canadian troops in southern Afghanistan.  Qari Yousaf Ahmadi, who claims to be a spokesman for Taliban affairs in southern Afghanistan, said the bomber who targeted troops in Kandahar was an Afghan from the same province.  NATO said its troops suffered "multiple casualties" in the blast. An Afghan official said the attack left several people dead and dozens wounded.  Ahmadi, whose exact ties to the militants is not known, said the militants will continue with their attacks against U.S., NATO and other coalition forces.

 

[17thRecceSgt]

http://news.sympatico.msn.ctv.ca/TopStories/ContentPosting.aspx?newsitemid=CTVNews%2f20060917%2fsuicide_bomb_afghan_060918&feedname=CTV-TOPSTORIES_V2&showbyline=True


Four soldiers were killed and several wounded in an explosion which targeted troops in southern Afghanistan Monday, a NATO spokesman said.


CTV.ca News Staff



The attack took place as the troops, including Canadians, were handing out candy and notebooks to children in the Kandahar province of Panjwaii.

NATO spokesman Mark Laity told Newsnet that four soldiers were killed and "a significant number of others wounded," but declined to reveal their nationalities.

He said the blast, which may have been carried out by a suicide bomber "on a bicycle," also injured "a number of civilians.''

Laity told Newsnet that NATO officials were "not surprised" by the attack.

"These tactics are what we'd expect from an enemy that's been defeated," Laity said, adding that it may be "some time" before the number of civilian casualties was known.

Monday's attack comes just a day after NATO wrapped up Operation Medusa -- a two-week anti-Taliban operation in which more than 500 insurgents were reported killed. NATO described the operation as a success Sunday, despite continuing violence in the south.

Most of Afghanistan's recent surge in violence has taken place in volatile southern provinces, where some 8,000 NATO forces took military control from the U.S.-led coalition on Aug. 1.

NATO commanders say they need another 2,500 troops plus greater air support to crush the Taliban threat more quickly.

Some 2,200 Canadians are in Kandahar province. Thirty-two Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have been killed since the Canadian mission to the country began in 2002.

With files from the Associated Press.

 

[patrick666]

I don't care why you are fighting, what religion you are, who you are fighting... attacking children will always be wrong and just shows how callous and depraved they are.

RIP to the 4 soldiers who have died and a get well to those who have been injured. 

 

[scoutfinch]

I know, I know. When I mumbled it to myself while typing I was using my sarcastic voice.

Damn... that *inside voice* getting outside again, vern?

 

[17thRecceSgt]

to the four fallen soliders, to the wounded, the comrades, families, friends and loved ones.

 

[17thRecceSgt]

CBC Newsworld has BGen Fraser on...another sad day for Canada.





MRM

 

[patrick666]

All 4 are Canadian... It truly is another sad day, rest easy soldiers. 

 

[patrick666]

Suicide bomb kills 4 Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan
Last Updated Mon, 18 Sep 2006 09:27:42 EDT
CBC News

Four Canadian soldiers were killed by a suicide bomber in southern Afghanistan on Monday while they were conducting a security patrol, according to the Canadian military.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to go out all of the families," said Brig.-Gen. David Fraser, the Canadian commander in southern Afghanistan. He said next of kin are still being notified.

NATO spokesman Mark Laity told CBC News said NATO believes the bomb was attached to a bicycle.

Earlier reports said the soldiers were handing out notebooks and pens to children at the time of the attack, but Canadian officials would say only that the troops had been on patrol.

A "substantial" number of NATO soldiers were wounded in the attack, Laity said, adding it was not clear how many civilians were wounded.

"It's a fairly chaotic scene," he said.

"We are not yet certain how many civilians were involved. At the moment, the number seems small," he said.

Afghan officials said dozens of people were wounded.

The injured soldiers were taken to a military hospital, Laity said.

The attack occurred in the Panjwaii district of Kandahar province, where a two-week NATO-led operation to rid the area of Taliban ended Sunday.

NATO has said its troops killed more than 500 insurgents in the operation and called it a success even though violence continues in the south.

"After the success of the Operation Medusa, where we pushed the Taliban out of a large area, we are trying to set up the conditions for non-combat rebuilding and reconstruction. So this was not a combat scene," Laity said.

Canada has more than 2,000 soldiers in Afghanistan, mostly in the Kandahar region. On Friday, the Harper government announced that it was increasing the country's troop commitment to 2,500.

With the latest deaths, 36 Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have been killed since the Canadian mission to the country began in 2002.




RIP, my deepest sympathies to their family, friends and comrades.

 

[muffin]

RIP Soldiers..

Thought and prayers to the families and friends.

... takes a sick kinda freak to drive a bomb into a group a children.

 

[Nagual]

RIP   

Phil

 

[CADPAT SOLDIER]

RIP--- 

 

[The_Pipes]

RIP to the fallen, My thoughts and prayers for the family and friends.

 

[military granny]

RIP Soldiers 
May the injured get back on their feet soon, and may the families find some comfort knowing their men and women are hero's to us at home.

 

[Nfld Sapper]

Well both CBC and CTV have it on there websites.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/09/18/bombing-canadians.html

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060917/suicide_bomb_afghan_060918/20060918?hub=TopStories


<ADDED>

And from DND.

News Release
Four Canadian soldiers killed, others injured in Afghanistan
CEFCOM NR–06.023 - September 18, 2006

OTTAWA - Four Canadian soldiers were killed and a number of others injured when a suicide bomber, travelling on a bicycle, detonated himself near Canadian troops conducting a foot patrol in the Panjwayi district, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.  The attack occurred at approximately 9:30 a.m. Kandahar time, about 30 km west of Kandahar City. An unknown number of civilians, including children, were also injured in the explosion.

The identities of the deceased soldiers are being withheld pending notification of next-of-kin.

International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) helicopters evacuated the injured soldiers to various ISAF medical facilities in the region, including the Canadian-led multinational hospital at the Kandahar Airfield. Two injured Afghan children were also evacuated to the Canadian Provincial Reconstruction Team’s (PRT) camp in Kandahar City for medical treatment. All of the injured soldiers have non-life threatening injuries.

Cowardly Taliban attacks like this are an attempt to undermine Canadian and international efforts to help the Afghan people achieve peace and security.

Reconstruction of Afghanistan, the overarching goal of Canada and of the international community, is inhibited by insurgency. The Taliban have proven time and time again that they are opposed to the reconstruction of Afghanistan and the improvement of conditions for all Afghans.

 

[dglad]

Once again, a salute to these soldiers, a wish for them to RIP, and the most sincere condolences to their families, friends and loved ones.

 

[The Bread Guy]

To the fallen, and the familes, colleagues and friends of the fallen...






Best wishes to the injured - hoping you'll be better soon.

 

[ark]

RIP soldiers & civilians + a speedy recovery to the injured.

 

[gk404]

My condolences to the families and the troops.  My wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured. 

 

[Wookilar]

to the Fallen and injured.

Kids...........

Negotiate?

...............

I don't think so.

edit: now even 9D wants to go on the warpath. Our condolences to the families.