CFC-Afghanistan press release.
UPDATED NEWS RELEASE
Suicide bombers attack Coalition; civilians in Kandahar City
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Updated reports indicate the two suicide bombers who attacked a Coalition vehicle patrol July 22 in Kandahar City, did so in a large crowd of Afghan civilians, killing five innocent Afghans and wounding 32.
Two Coalition soldiers were also killed and eight were wounded when the first suicide attacker detonated a bomb on the Soldiers’ vehicle patrol.
A short time later, a large number of Afghan civilians were wounded when a second suicide bomber, moving on foot, detonated his explosive vest in a crowd that had gathered to look at the initial attack site.
“This horrific incident, executed by brutal Taliban extremists, is a gross act against the people of Afghanistan,” said Maj. Gen. Benjamin C. Freakley, commander of Combined Joint Task Force – 76. “We grieve for our lost Canadian Soldiers who served so willingly. They were superb teammates and we will always remember their selfless sacrifice. We are honored to have served with them.”
The wounded Coalition soldiers were evacuated to Kandahar Airfield’s multinational hospital, and the wounded Afghan civilians were evacuated by Afghan National Police to a local Afghan hospital for treatment.