2009 NATO Afghanistan headquarters bombing

Last updated
2009 NATO Afghanistan headquarters bombing
Part of the Taliban insurgency
Location Kabul, Afghanistan
DateAugust 15, 2009
8:30 AM [1] (UTC+4:30)
TargetNorth Atlantic Treaty Organization headquarters
Attack type
Suicide attack
Deaths7 [2]
Injured91 [2]
PerpetratorsFlag of the Taliban.svg  Taliban

The 2009 NATO Afghanistan headquarters bombing occurred on August 15, 2009, when a Taliban suicide bomber detonated himself outside the NATO headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan. The bomber killed at least seven people and injured 91.

Contents

Attack

The bomber drove his automobile undetected through three or fewer police-checkpoints before detonating his explosive payload, estimated as variously 275 kilograms (606 lb) [3] and 500 kilograms (1,100 lb), [1] 30 yards (27 m) from the main gate of the NATO base. [2] The attack, coming five days before the country's presidential elections, was the first major attack in the capital since February. [2]

Aftermath

The attack wounded 91 people and immediately killed seven civilians, [4] though doctors stated that some patients were in danger of succumbing to injuries later on. [1] Casualties among the military were stated to have been avoided by ISAF Brigadier General Eric Tremblay, though he would not give details. [2] The Taliban claimed differently, stating that they had destroyed four vehicles and killed 24 US embassy employees. [1] Among those wounded was parliament member, Awa Alam Nuristani, and a female campaign manager for President Hamid Karzai. [2] After the attacks Karzai declared that "the enemies of Afghanistan, by conducting such attacks, are trying to create fear among the people as we get close to the election, but people still realise the importance of going to ballot boxes to cast their votes." [2]

The attack was claimed by a Taliban spokesperson to have been carried out as a method to disrupt the country's second election. [1] The spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, stated that, "One of our suicide bombers in a (Toyota Hilux) Surf vehicle packed with 500 kilograms of explosives targeted the ISAF headquarters... We will continue this kind of operation in the future and we will accelerate our operations against the Afghan and foreign forces." [4]

The blast occurred in one of the city's most heavily guarded streets, which runs between the United States Embassy and the presidential palace. The blast did not affect them, nor did it cause substantial damage to the NATO headquarters. [4] It was the first attack on the NATO compound since its construction in 2002. [3]

The incident marked the beginning of a wave of intimidation by unknown perpetrators, mostly spread by telephone calls and text messaging, warning Afghans not to participate in polling at risk of being killed and targeted alongside foreign forces. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taliban insurgency</span> Islamist Insurgency during the War in Afghanistan

The Taliban insurgency began after the group's fall from power during the 2001 War in Afghanistan. The Taliban forces fought against the Afghan government, led by President Hamid Karzai, and later by President Ashraf Ghani, and against a US-led coalition of forces that has included all members of NATO; the 2021 Taliban offensive resulted in the collapse of the government of Ashraf Ghani. The private sector in Pakistan extends financial aid to the Taliban, contributing to their financial sustenance.

During the War in Afghanistan, according to the Costs of War Project the war killed 176,000 people in Afghanistan: 46,319 civilians, 69,095 military and police and at least 52,893 opposition fighters. However, the death toll is possibly higher due to unaccounted deaths by "disease, loss of access to food, water, infrastructure, and/or other indirect consequences of the war." According to the Uppsala Conflict Data Program, the conflict killed 212,191 people. The Cost of War project estimated in 2015 that the number who have died through indirect causes related to the war may be as high as 360,000 additional people based on a ratio of indirect to direct deaths in contemporary conflicts.

Events from the year 2007 in Afghanistan.

The Sarposa Prison attack was a raid on the Sarposa Prison in Kandahar, Afghanistan by Taliban insurgents on June 13, 2008. One of the largest attacks by Afghan insurgents, the raid freed 400-1,000 prisoners. As of 2008, prison administration was overseen by Abdul Qabir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 bombing of Indian embassy in Kabul</span> Suicide bomb terrorist attack

The 2008 Indian embassy bombing in Kabul was a suicide bomb terror attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan on 7 July 2008 at 8:30 AM local time. The bombing killed 58 people and wounded 141. The suicide car bombing took place near the gates of the embassy during morning hours when officials enter the embassy.

The 2009 Kabul Indian embassy bombing was a suicide bomb attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan on 8 October 2009 at 8:30 am local time. The bombing killed 17 people and wounded 83.

The February 2010 Kabul attack on 26 February 2010 was a combined suicide bombing and shooting attack. A car bomb levelled the Arya Guesthouse, also known as the Hamid Guesthouse, popular with Indian doctors. Two armed attackers then entered the nearby Park Residence, housing other foreigners. One detonated a suicide bomb, and the other was shot dead. The Safi Landmark Hotel nearby was badly damaged by the blasts. At least 18 people were killed and 36 more were injured.

The May 2010 Kabul bombing occurred on May 18, 2010, in Kabul, Afghanistan. 18 people, including 5 US soldiers and a Canadian soldier, were killed and 52 were injured when a NATO convoy was targeted by a Taliban suicide attacker. It was the deadliest attack against NATO forces in Afghanistan since September 2009, when six Italian soldiers were killed by a suicide bomber. Two full colonels and two lieutenant colonels were killed in this attack, making it the deadliest attack against ranking officers in Afghanistan. With this attack, the total number of Americans killed in Afghanistan crossed one thousand.

Events from the year 2011 in Afghanistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Afghanistan Ashura bombings</span> Suicide bombing in Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif

The 2011 Afghanistan Ashura bombings were a pair of bombings in the Afghan capital of Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif. The Kabul suicide bombing took place at around noon local time, on the day when Muslims commemorate Ashura, an annual holy day throughout the Muslim world particularly by the Shi'a Muslims.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 in Afghanistan</span>

Events from the year 2012 in Afghanistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">April 2012 Afghanistan attacks</span> Suicide bombing and Taliban attacks

The April 2012 Afghanistan attacks took place on Sunday, 15 April 2012, at around 13:00 local time when heavily armed Taliban insurgents and suicide bombers launched multiple coordinated attacks throughout Afghanistan. Insurgents launched the 2012 spring offensive on multiple locations, including government buildings, military bases, and embassies. Attacks occurred in four Afghan provinces, including Kabul and Paktia. Different reports attribute responsibility for the attacks to either Taliban or the Haqqani network although the Taliban have claimed responsibility.

The following lists events from 2014 in Afghanistan.

The following lists events that happened in 2013 in Afghanistan.

On the morning of 19 April 2016, Taliban militants attacked a security team responsible for protecting government VIPs in Kabul, Afghanistan. The initial attack killed 64 people and wounded 347. It was their biggest attack on an urban area since 2001.

On 27 January 2018, an ambulance was used as a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device near Sidarat Square in Kabul, Afghanistan. At least 103 people were killed and 235 others wounded in the attack. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

A suicide car bomb exploded at a security checkpoint outside a police station in the Afghanistan capital, Kabul, on 7 August 2019. The explosion occurred in the early morning, in a predominantly Shia neighbourhood in western Kabul. At least 14 people were killed and 145 injured, mostly civilians. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, citing that one of their suicide bombers attacked "a recruitment centre". The attack occurred as ongoing negotiations between the Taliban and the United States were being conducted.

On 17 September 2019, two suicide bombings killed over 48 people in Charikar and Kabul, Afghanistan. The first attack occurred at a rally for president Ashraf Ghani which killed over 26 and wounded over 42. Ghani was unharmed in the incident. The second bombing occurred in Kabul near the US embassy. In this incident 22 were killed and another 38 were injured in the explosion. Children and women were among the dead and wounded in both attacks.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Suicide car bomb hits ISAF headquarters in Afghan capital". Xinhua. August 15, 2009. Archived from the original on August 21, 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-17.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Simon Alford (August 15, 2009). "Suicide bomb at NATO HQ in Kabul kills seven". The Times . London.
  3. 1 2 Rosie Dimanno (August 16, 2009). "Brazen attack rattles Kabul". Toronto Star . Retrieved 2009-08-17.
  4. 1 2 3 Carlotta Gall, Sangar Rahimi (August 15, 2009). "Bomb kills 7 near NATO offices in Afghan capital". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-08-17.
  5. "Don't vote, Afghan public warned". CBC News. August 16, 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-17.