Peacekeepers fired at in Afghan capital
British peacekeepers patrolling in western Kabul were fired on as their convoy travelled to an observation post in the second shooting incident in as many days, a spokesman for the security force said today.
Flight Lt Tony Marshall, a British spokesman for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), expressed concern about the increase in violence, but said it was not clear if the attack yesterday was directed at the peacekeepers. There were no injuries and the assailant got away.
He said: ‘‘There is a little bit of frustration creeping in now because the honeymoon period is coming toward an end. Maybe there are some groups out there now who are getting a bit frustrated and want to see something more substantial happening in terms of reconstruction.’’
Attacks on the peacekeepers have been rare since the force was established by the UN Security Council on December 20. The 18-nation, 4,500-member force, led by the British, is responsible for maintaining security in the capital, Kabul.
The incident occurred at 9.20pm as a patrol of 1st Royal Anglian Regiment troops were driving to the gates of Kabul observation post, which sits atop a hill on the western side of the city. The shots came from 200 yards behind them, Marshall said.
He said that the small-arms fire came from a single assailant, but that there may have been more people in the group. The British troops immediately returned fire, shot off flares to illuminate the area and called in reinforcements.
Peacekeepers at the observation post about a mile away used thermal imaging technology to try to track the shooter but he got away, Marshall said.
He said the peacekeepers do not think they hit the man, as there were no traces of blood. Peacekeepers and Afghan police were combing the area today in search of suspects.
On Friday afternoon, an armoured patrol of German peacekeepers was fired on from a compound that houses northern alliance militiamen in another part of the city, about eight miles away.
The peacekeeping force originally said about 10 shots hit a wall 30 yards from the German troops, but Marshall said that the bullets actually hit the ground just in front of the vehicles. There were no injuries and no-one was taken into custody.
Marshall said that peacekeepers searched the compound and found only an old man who claimed to have seen and heard nothing. The shooting was being investigated.
Also today, Marshall said former king Mohammad Zaher Shah was expected to return to Afghanistan from his home in Italy in mid-April, after peacekeepers have a chance to train his security personnel. The king had been due to return earlier this month, but delayed the trip over security concerns.
When asked if the king was now expected to arrive around April 15, Marshall said: ‘‘That’s what we’re hearing.’’
