Afghan National Police apprehend 15-year-old insurgent with suicide bomber vest

ORUZGAN PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

08.20.2010

Courtesy Story

NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan

By Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan Public Affairs

ORUZGAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Afghanistan National Police while on patrol in Oruzgan apprehended one insurgent and recovered three suicide bomber vests Aug. 20.

Three insurgents, wearing suicide bomber vests and standing in a cornfield near the Deh Rawod bazaar; fled the area when they observed an ANP patrol approaching their location. One insurgent, a 15-year-old, was caught by members of the ANP patrol. The other two insurgents abandoned their respective vests in the cornfield before fleeing the scene. They were not caught.

An external power source was not attached to any of the vests when recovered. With assistance from U.S. Special Forces the vests were later destroyed in a controlled detonation.

“Suicide bombers targeting innocent Afghans is clearly in violation of what should be a peaceful time during Ramadan.” said Maj. Paul Oliver, spokesman for Special Operations Task Force-South East. “Thankfully, the professionalism and security provided by the ANP protected the Afghan people from this potentially deadly event.”

This arrest follows multiple improvised explosive device blasts in the local area over the last week, killing an Assistant Police Chief as well as nine other civilians. The ANP are on high alert and continue to crack down on criminal insurgent activity inside the city.

• Date Taken: 08.20.2010
• Date Posted: 08.24.2010 07:10
• Story ID: 55089
• Location: ORUZGAN PROVINCE, AF