www.china.org.cn
November 22, 2002



Three Explosions Hit Kabul's Airport

Kabul's international airport was hit by three explosions in what was believed to be a series of rocket attacks, military sources said Saturday.

"There were three explosions at the airport last night (Friday). There were no injuries," said Major Karen Daly, a British spokeswoman for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.

Anonymous ISAF sources said that the explosions were caused by three rockets launched close to the airport late Friday.

The sources said the target of the attack was not clear, but British and French troops based near the airport had been put on full alert following the blasts.

Two of the rockets, which were all fired within the space of five minutes, passed over an ISAF base, the sources said, adding that ballistic studies were underway to determine their origin.

"They probably came from several kilometres (miles) from the airport," they said.

Last week a French soldier suffered minor injuries when unknown gunman opened fire on an ISAF patrol at the bomb-shattered airport.

This month an ISAF base in eastern Kabul was hit by two Chinese-made missiles. Several other incidents have prompted fears over unravelling security in the Afghan capital.

Friday's explosions came just hours before US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was due to arrive at Bagram Air Base 50 kilometres (31 miles) north of Kabul.

He was expected to travel to the Afghan capital to hold talks with interim leader Hamid Karzai later Saturday.

(China Daily April 28, 2002)

In This Series
Errant US Bomb Kills Canadian Troops

Afghanistan's Ex-king Heads Home

Bin Laden, Top Aide Appear in New Video

China to Send Further Relief to Afghanistan

Quakes Rock Afghan, Death Toll Approaches 5000

References

Archive

Web Link


Copyright © 2001 China Internet Information Center. All Rights Reserved
E-mail: webmaster@china.org.cn Tel: 86-10-68326688