All Indians safe; 6 suicide bombers killed
In the fourth attack since 2007, heavily-armed terrorists, including suicide bombers, on Wednesday struck the Indian consulate at Jalalabad in Afghanistan, killing nine people including an Afghan securityman, and damaging the Indian chancery. The external affairs ministry in New Delhi said all Indians there were safe and all the six attackers had been killed. Two of the terrorists blew themselves up, while four of them were gunned down by the Afghan National Police.
In New Delhi, Indian government sources said the attack on the consulate was effectively repulsed by the ITBP, our correspondent reports. At 1.20 pm there was a big explosion nearly 100 meters from the consulate, where a fidayeen attacker blew himself up. This was followed by heavy fire by the assailants on the consulate as they tried to get closer. One grenade was lobbed inside the consulate, where it exploded and caused damage to the building. Another assault followed, with an IED-borne vehicle exploding. The ITBP commandos fired back at the assailants, keeping them at bay till the Afghan forces arrived in strength. After 25 minutes, Afghan special forces took control, an official said.
MEA spokesman Vikas Swarup said in New Delhi: “One suicide bomber blew himself up in front of the mission and another blew himself up along with a car that carried the attackers. Four terrorists were killed by the Afghan securitymen.”
Eight civilians were killed in the crossfire, Indian security sources said, based on reports from the attack site. They said there were as many as 1,320 explosions, including bomb and grenade blasts, in the two-hour gunbattle.
Wednesday’s attack is fourth in the series of terror strikes on the Indian consulate in Jalalabad. It was attacked twice by hand grenades in 2007 and in 2013, and struck by three suicide bombers. In 2015, an attack on it was thwarted by the Afghan security forces.
Two months ago, heavily-armed terrorists carried out an attack on the Indian mission in Mazar-e-Sharif lasting for 25 hours, with all attackers who attempted to storm the building being killed by the Afghan security forces.
