UN chief condemns attack on Afghan UN office

UNITED NATIONS - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has strongly condemned the suicide attack on a UN office in Afghanistan’s Herat province.

Saturday’s attack did not disrupt UN activities in Herat and no UN staff members were hurt.

However, at least two security guards were injured in the attack, Xinhua reported citing the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

“The Secretary-General wholeheartedly commends the immediate support rendered by units of the Afghan National Security Forces and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) whose prompt action stabilised the situation and undoubtedly saved the lives of UN staff members in the compound,” the statement said.

It said the UN is conducting a full investigation on the attack, and that the global body will continue to maintain its presence in Herat for the benefit of the population and in support of the Afghan authorities.

The first of the bombers detonated his explosive-laden vehicle at the gate of the compound, allowing three of his comrades - equipped with machine guns and suicide vests - to enter the facility, Abdul Majeed Roozi, top commander for police forces in western Afghanistan said.

“Two guards were injured in the blast, while a policeman was injured in the firefight with the attackers,” Roozi was quoted as saying by DPA.

Noor Khan Nikzad, spokesman for provincial police chief of Herat said three of the bombers, who were on foot, had disguised themselves in women’s clothes.

He said the first blast sent the UN workers inside the compound scurrying for safety to a bunker, but a UN official later said no UN administrative personnel were inside the compound because of weekend holiday.