World
Advance Warning Not Enough
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN
(Associated Press) -
The head of Afghan intelligence says his people knew a week before the assault on a U.N. guest house that the Taliban were planning an attack in Kabul.
He says security had been strengthened, but not during the pre-dawn hours when the militants struck. The intelligence reports had suggested the attack would happen either after 7 a.m. or around 3 p.m.
Gunmen wearing suicide vests stormed the guest house before 6 a.m. Wednesday, killing eight people, including five U.N. staffers from overseas. The gunmen were also killed.
Intelligence chief Amrullah Saleh says eight men have been arrested for plotting the attack, including an imam who housed the assailants. He was captured as he landed by plane in Saudi Arabia.
The United Nations has said that it took too long for Afghan police and NATO troops to respond to the attack. Today's comments are likely to intensify criticism of the security being provided to U.N. employees in Afghanistan.
© Copyright 2009, Associated Press
(2009-10-31)
He says security had been strengthened, but not during the pre-dawn hours when the militants struck. The intelligence reports had suggested the attack would happen either after 7 a.m. or around 3 p.m.
Gunmen wearing suicide vests stormed the guest house before 6 a.m. Wednesday, killing eight people, including five U.N. staffers from overseas. The gunmen were also killed.
Intelligence chief Amrullah Saleh says eight men have been arrested for plotting the attack, including an imam who housed the assailants. He was captured as he landed by plane in Saudi Arabia.
The United Nations has said that it took too long for Afghan police and NATO troops to respond to the attack. Today's comments are likely to intensify criticism of the security being provided to U.N. employees in Afghanistan.
© Copyright 2009, Associated Press





