TALIBAN SUICIDE BOMBERS ATTACK U.S. COMPANY IN AFGHANISTAN

Taliban attack U.S. company in Afghanistan

Suicide bombers lead attack which leads to five-hour gunbattle

Source: Reuters

KABUL — Taliban insurgents backed by suicide bombers attacked a U.S. contracting company office in northern Afghanistan on Friday, killing at least one foreigner and wounding up to 20, a provincial official said.

The pre-dawn attack happened in relatively peaceful Kunduz province when Taliban gunmen and suicide bombers stormed the offices of Development Alternatives Inc. (DAI), next to a small hotel, provincial governor Mohammed Omar told Reuters.

According to their website, the company is one of USAID's principal service providers and specializes in post-conflict reconstruction, local government, agribusiness and natural resource management.

One of the bombers blew himself up in front of the gate to allow other fighters to push inside, triggering a five-hour gunbattle with security guards and police, Omar said.

Afghan police and security guards were still fighting the insurgents, Omar said. One unidentified foreigner was killed, he said, and at least 20 people wounded including Afghan police and an unknown number of civilians.

A Filipino worker was wounded and evacuated to hospital, police said. A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid said at least six suicide bombers and fighters were involved in the attack.

Kunduz province is mainly patrolled by German forces under wider NATO-command.

Insurgents have managed to infiltrate remote villages and districts in the province as they seek to push their reach and influence beyond traditional southern strongholds ahead of a looming "surge" offensive by U.S.-led coalition forces.