Blasts Kill U.S., Canadian, Italian Troops in Afghanistan
Â
Sept. 18, 2009
KABULÂ — A U.S. service member and a Canadian soldier died in separate roadside bomb explosions in southern Afghanistan, officials said Friday, announcing new deaths from a day that claimed the lives of a total of nine international troops.
The American and Canadian died Thursday, the same day a car bomber killed six Italian troops in a brazen attack in the heavily guarded capital of Kabul. A NATO soldier also died Thursday of wounds from an earlier attack. …
This year has been the deadliest for American and NATO troops since the 2001 invasion to oust the Taliban for sheltering al-Qaida leaders who plotted the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S. Violence has been particularly harsh in the south, where thousands of U.S. troops have deployed to bolster the Canadian and British-led operations in the Taliban heartland.
The U.S. and NATO have a record number of troops in Afghanistan — nearly 100,000 in total — and the top commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, is likely to soon request thousands more.
——
Man Admits Role in Planned Terror Attack
Najibullah Zazi arrives at the federal building in Denver on Thursday for questioning by the FBI. He was questioned again on Friday, Sept. 18, 2009. (Photo credit: Marc Piscotty / Getty Images)
The Associated Press via NBC News
Sept. 18, 2009
DENVERÂ — A man under investigation in a terrorism probe in New York and Denver has indicated he is associated with al-Qaida and played a key role in a planned terror attack, a senior U.S. intelligence official said Friday.
Najibullah Zazi’s attorney says he has never met with al-Qaida operatives and isn’t involved in terrorism. Zazi completed a third day of questioning by FBI agents in Denver Friday but was not under arrest. More questioning was expected Saturday.
The intelligence official in Washington told The Associated Press that Zazi has indicated that he is directly linked with al-Qaida. …
Zazi admitted to attending a terror training camp in Pakistan, where the FBI believes he may have had contact with members of al-Qaida, NBC reported. …
Zazi, 24, was born in Afghanistan in 1985, moved to Pakistan at age 7 and emigrated to the United States in 1999. Zazi’s aunt had said earlier that he was born in Pakistan and grew up in Queens, New York City. …
This is a developing story. Check here for updates.
CNN reports the suspect had video of New York City’s Grand Central Terminal in his possession. …Â Updates
——
9/20/09 Update
Three Men Arrested in Federal Terrorism Probe
The FBI arrested a 24-year-old Colorado man on charges of making false statements to federal agents in a terrorism investigation, and supporting documents contend the man admitted receiving weapons and explosives training from al-Qaida in Pakistan. … Also arrested were Zazi’s father, Mohammed Wali Zazi, 53, in Denver; and Ahmad Wais Afzali, 37, of Queens, New York, the Justice Department said Sunday. … Full story
——
FROM THE ARCHIVES: One Year Ago — September 19, 2008
The cooling tower of North Korea’s Yongbyon nuclear complex, a plutonium-producing reactor, was demolished on June 27, 2008.
(Photo credit: Reuters)
After the Primary Election: Day 10
One year ago today, on the 10th day after losing my 2008 primary challenge against U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann in Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District, in line with my focus on national security, I reported on a CH-47 Chinook helicopter crash that killed seven U.S. soldiers in Iraq; posted a daily summary of security incidents in Iraq; and reported that North Korea was preparing to restart its Yongbyon nuclear reactor.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
April 19th, 2010 at 12:56 am
[…] 9 Coalition Troops Killed (Sept. 19, 2009) […]
May 19th, 2010 at 10:49 am
[…] 9 Coalition Troops Killed (Sept. 19, 2009) […]
June 10th, 2010 at 9:56 pm
[…] 9 Coalition Troops Killed (Sept. 19, 2009) […]
September 19th, 2010 at 8:19 am
[…] 9 Coalition Troops Killed […]
November 27th, 2010 at 4:34 am
[…] Afghan-American Admits Role in Terror Plot (Sept. 19, 2009) […]
December 11th, 2010 at 10:14 pm
[…] Afghan-American Admits Role in Terror Plot (Sept. 19, 2009) […]
December 12th, 2010 at 7:02 am
[…] Afghan-American Admits Role in Terror Plot (Sept. 19, 2009) […]
January 20th, 2011 at 3:16 am
[…] Sept. 17, 2009: A suicide car bomber kills six Italian soldiers and 10 Afghan civilians on one of Kabul’s main roads. […]
September 20th, 2011 at 12:20 am
[…] 9 Coalition Troops Killed in Afghanistan […]