2016 bombing of the German consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif explained

Bombing of the German consulate at Mazar-i-Sharif
Location:Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan
Target:German consulate
Time:23:05
Type:Truck bombing, suicide attack
Fatalities:6 (+2 bombers)
Injuries:129
Victim:-->
Perpetrators:Taliban
Assailant:-->
Susperp:-->
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A group of three suicide attackers rammed a truck bomb into the wall of the German consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan on 10 November 2016. Six people were killed (as well as two of the bombers) and more than 120 others were injured, while the sole remaining attacker was captured by Afghan security forces.[1] [2] The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack and Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the bombing was in retaliation for an airstrike in Kunduz that killed 30 civilians the week before.

Event

At about 23:05 local time, a suicide bomber rammed a truck into the side of the German consulate. The truck exploded, killing six people and injuring dozens of others. After the bombing, armed terrorists entered the compound. PSA of the German Federal Police protected the German diplomatic staff and held strong points in the building against the terrorist assault. Later, German KSK and Kampfretter were able to secure pathways to them and enable safe evacuation of the civilian personell. This was the first combat mission of the Kampfretter, the PSA's most severe firefight, and the first time those special(ized) forces fought side by side.[3]

The Resolute Support Mission troops were deployed to the scene to investigate. It is possible that two bombs were involved as the damage to the consulate was so extensive that it is unlikely one bomb could have caused it.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: German consulate in Afghanistan. foxnews.com. 10 November 2016 . Associated Press. November 11, 2016.
  2. Web site: Fahim. Hamid. Taliban attack German consulate in Afghanistan's Mazar-i-Sharif. yahoo.com. Agence France-Presse. 10 November 2016. 11 November 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161111062837/https://www.yahoo.com/news/taliban-attack-german-consulate-afghanistans-mazar-sharif-201341427.html. dead.
  3. Web site: KSK im Einsatz. Der Anschlag auf das deutsche Generalkonsulat in Masar-i-Sharif 2016. bundeswehr.de. 10 May 2024 . Bundeswehr. May 14, 2024. de.