Afghanistan: Jihad/martyrdom bombers attack UN office

"Wearing police uniforms and burqas" -- again indicating that there is substantial reason to ban the burqa in Western countries: you never know who or what might be under it. "Suicide bombers attack UN office in Afghan city," by Aref Karimi for AFP, October 23 (thanks to Weasel Zippers):

HERAT, Afghanistan -- Four suicide bombers wearing police uniforms and burqas on Saturday attacked the United Nations office in the western Afghan city of Herat, senior police and UN officials said.

There were no casualties among UN workers, Delawar Shah Delawar, deputy police chief of Herat province, told AFP after the raid, which was claimed by the Taliban.

Delawar, who earlier said there were three attackers, said another had been found, shot and killed by police.

"In total four attackers have been killed. One detonated his explosives-packed vehicle at the gate, a second attacker was shot and killed outside the compound, and two other attackers have been shot and killed inside the compound," he said....

Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi, speaking by telephone from an undisclosed location, said the militant Islamist group was behind the raid.

"We carried out the attack on the UNAMA office in Herat. The attack is still ongoing and so far 12 UNAMA guards and workers have been killed," he said....

In January, the US consulate under construction in Herat came under rocket fire. There were no casualties.

The Taliban said earlier this year that all foreigners -- including troops, diplomats and aid workers -- and Afghans working for them were considered legitimate targets in their war against the Western-backed Kabul government.

In other violence, the spokesman for the governor of Kandahar said an apparent suicide bomber had blown himself up before reaching his target.

"A suicide attacker on a motorbike was on his way to whatever his target was when his explosives detonated prematurely in the centre of the city," he said....

No virgins for you, pal.