Double suicide attack averted by ANSF

NANGARHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan –Two failed suicide attacks resulted in the death of four attackers and one non-combatant at approximately 9 a.m. today in Bati Kowt District, Nangarhar Province. 

A suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device that was reportedly targeting Afghan National Police detonated along Highway One killing the bombers, the driver and two passengers of the vehicle, as well as a non-combatant who was in the area when the vehicle exploded. 

While securing the site of the S-VBIED attack, ANP were attacked by an insurgent dressed in an ANP uniform wearing a suicide vest.  The attacker was engaged and killed by ANP and Coalition forces on site.

During recovery activities at the blast site, a crowd began converging on the road near the site when a truck which was initially assessed as an additional VBIED was identified heading toward the crowd.  Out of safety concerns for the individuals in the crowd and the ANSF and Coalition elements on scene and in accordance with Coalition escalation of force procedures a Coalition servicemember fired two well-aimed warning shots away from the crowd into a nearby canal to disperse them.

The truck, which turned out to be a responding fire-and-rescue vehicle, had brake failure which caused the driver to lose control and crash into other vehicles already on scene.  Four Afghan investigators were injured in the vehicle accident and were evacuated to local medical facilities by ANP on scene.

The incident is currently under investigation.

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