Eyewitnesses to Kabul explosions
Explosions and heavy automatic gunfire were heard hours after five well-armed suicide bombers attacked the British Council in Kabul on Friday, leaving at least eight people dead, officials said.
Two iReporters were in Kabul and captured the seconds after the explosions and what it was like in the hours that followed:
"It was 5:40 when a very strong explosion shook my house and woke me up," said iReporter Nazir Ekhlass. "The first thing that came to my mind was 'may[be] it's a rocket that hit very close to my house.'"
Ekhlass, 23, went up to his roof to immediately take the photos above. "The Taliban claimed credit for the attack," he said. "and the reason they say was 'we have defeated Britain in 1919, this attack is to refresh the defeat.'"
For iReporter Joseph Andrew Grosso, 30, the blasts hit close to home. He lives about two blocks away from the British Council. "I woke up with the first blast ringing in my ears and our whole house shaking," he wrote in his iReport.
"[I ran] to the rooftop with my friends and my camera, tousled headed but instantly awake," the New York native said. "We watched the rest of the attack all day."
was curious to see how long it would take this twit would post his mindless little videos. here we go again.......
sign off
me too.
gone.
Me too. I keep complianing to CNN over this but to no avail. After all, we're supposed to be discussing Afghanistan.
to our trolls: you do your cause and "faith" no favors by the exhibition and publication of your hate filled rants. You are the face of islam to the rest of us.
Is this is the kind of "reason" and intelligence islam produces? Your thoughts as expressed by your poorly written (and frequently miss spelled) words are horrifying, brutal, cruel, and without any redeeming qualities.
If there are enlightened, reasonable, and intelligent moslems who (we can only hope) are the actual majority, they need to speak up. Their collective silence is deafening.
Thank you, yet again, for making my point in spectacular, flamboyant style. (what a rut you are in.........)
do you even know who I am?
We don't care who you are, Eknath, your stupid post is enough to define yourself.
What's so stupid, stupid? Can;t you see it's the truth? Oh I guess your deaf, DUMB and blind.
These invectives against Islam are ignorant and stupid. The topic is about a blast occurred against UK (and US) occupation of Afghanistan.
We do not occupy Afghanistan stupid! We are there helping to build a government with an army and police force to battle any insurgents who want Taliban rule again. As you can see many do not want the religious fanatics in power to terrorize them any longer which they continue to do!
Had you read with any perception you would see that my post was NOT "an invective against islam," but rather a request that those who profess islam examine the tone and content of their posts and try to really communicate with others. An unending train of insults is not communication (as you well know).
Eknath – When I say that Dan is an imbecile it is not an insult, but a technical termo to stigmatize his inability to understand the reality. He is an imbecile unable to see that USA is an occupation force in Afghanistan killing civilians.
Hey IDIOT, how are we occupiers? Do we force are rule over them?
not are but our rule
Hinduism was a valuable tradition originally, as reported by Veda and Upanishad, unfortunately today is twisted and overlooked by the majority of Hindus. I think every orthodox tradition if correctly understood could dialogate with Islam.
How can you have a dialogue with a people that only wants power and control over people?
DAN – american politicians negotiated very well with the most radical and rigid part of Islam, the wahabi of Saudi Arabia. The basis for negotiation is the oil. Afghans want USA out of the country and have the right to kill all the intruders.
salamee – for once I sympathize with you. You won't penetrate the fog of bigotry and racism in Yankee's limited world. Good luck with that! I wish you well there.
Salamee, good name for a converted Italian Muslim. It's too bad he has to be so foolish. We never had to negotiate with the Saudi's. It's not like we were at war with them. Sure there are oil deals, but not with the government, with oil companies. The two governments are allied with each other against terrorism! It's not like we had to negotiate to become allies DUH? And again if all afghans did not want us there we would not have spent all the blood, sweat, tears and money to HELP them!
Boy are you a nutcase trying to blame all of the world's problems and it's evolving on the western world. Tell ME please, how would the world look if you were to control it? It's OK if you don't, because we will see in the Great Tribulation!
You are trying to justify genocide. What a guy!
we all know he is not suggesting "politics" to get rid of his boogyman hindus, he's talking murder.
well, if yankee is pretending to "communicate" he needs to clarify his meanings and quite talking in his mystery lingo. It is off-putting and makes him look foolish. You, at least, are trying to actually communicate. Thank you.
Did not the Taliban enforce sharia law with violence? They had killed many who were opposed to their way of rule. Did they not think that they were and are God's police, judges and executioners?
Taliban did that in THEIR country and their enemies were also muslims, using sharia law to gain power as they were mostly corrupt.
well, whatever you do, don't learn how to spell, and continue to insult others whose spelling you might question. no cred. deal with it.
How is it their country? Is it not for all afghans? And if you say they were mostly corrupt then how can you defend them?
Dan – Taliban are not corrupt. I said their enemy were mostly corrupt. The violence is endemic in muslim countries, as after the end of colonialism corrupt military leaderships cought power. All these leaders like Ghaddafi, Assad, Saddam, Mubaraq can be overthrown only by bloodly revolutions or targeted killing, like Al Qaeda planned to do before USA started the war against them protecting the dictatorships.
For your information al Qaeda declared war on the U.S. and how do you know what al Qaeda had planned to do? Are you some close confidant of al Qaeda or what? As for the Taliban and every fundamentalist Muslim, they are far from God and His way of life for mankind!
The tiny "t's" define corruption and cruelty. they are foul with it.
I know what AlQaeda planned to do as I read the press. It is broadly known that USA arrested 4 AQ members in Albany planning to kill Mubaraq.
One things these blogs illustrate time and time again is how we do not listen to each other. These threads are a microcosm for the larger world and how problems develop and worsen.............an utter lack of the skill, ability, or desire to listen to the other view. Rather, we see these juvenile pout, prance, and insult games go on and on.
This post will be ridiculed by the pouters and bigots who seem to think they own these threads. Wish we'd get a real response from the moderators as to why they allow the cruelties here. These blog threads are supposed to be a forum for intelligent discussion but that rarely (never, really) happens.
(See what I mean.....?)
Your point....if there is one (other than tossing out your mandatory insults)?
The point is clear: correct yourself before blaming others.
I am not "blaming others." You are a master of twisting and manipulation.
Eknath – my post was not directed to you, but to @@ explaining what he did not understand properly.
Learn to love an share despite your differences.
Judaism + Christianity +Isalm = Axis of Evil Against the Soul of Mankind
It's a very siomple math you just have to open your eyes to the equation !!
No Jimmy, the true Axis of Evil against the Soul of Mankind is the U.S. and it's NATO allies as seen today by their brutal takeover of Libya by proxy!!!
Dear Laila you are right, Taliban is the most wild animals and the are serving for PK and other extremists and they are the killers of innocent people in AFG and in all the worls by Alqaeda,
from Kabul
Regards
Come on pamiri, we're all getting a little sick and tired of reading you right-wing BS on this web page since there's not a word of truth in it anyway! Give it a rest, will you???
]Its UK that more than then Sudia Arabia supports Taliban and in one or the other way, and I think this explosion was desgned by british and Taliban, because some days before the Top commander of Taliban Mullah Zahef was invited to the British embassy!!! and then the event happened and we know that the British is note honest in fighting against Talibana nd terrorisms,
regards
From Kabul
The ILLUMINATION OF
CONSCIENCE predicted by O u r L a d y in Garabandal in 1961 will take place soon to
save the world.
The Warning is taking place to:
1. Prove to all that God exists.
2 Bring everyone to J e s u s and the Way of Truth.
3. To help save us before the final day of judgement by giving us a chance to ask for
forgiveness for the sins we have committed.
What will Happen?
TWO COMETS WILL
COLLIDE IN THE SKY.
The sky will turn red, it will look like fire & then you will see a large cross in the sky to
prepare you.
Everyone over the age of 7 will experience a mystical encounter with J e s u s C h r i s t which will last
anything up to 15 minutes.
Pray this prayer to be prepared: Oh my precious J e s u s,embrace me in your arms and allow my head to rest upon your shoulders so that you can raise me up to your glorious kingdom when the time is right. Allow your precious blood to flow over my heart that we can be united as one.
You will collide for sure, not the comets.
The ILLUMINATION OF
CONSCIENCE predicted by Our Lady in Garabandal in 1961 will take place soon to
save the world.
The Warning is taking place to:
1. Prove to all that God exists.
2 Bring everyone to Jesus and the Way of Truth.
3. To help save us before the final day of judgement by giving us a chance to ask for
forgiveness for the sins we have committed.
What will Happen?
TWO COMETS WILL
COLLIDE IN THE SKY.
The sky will turn red, it will look like fire & then you will see a large cross in the sky to
prepare you.
Everyone over the age of 7 will experience a mystical encounter with Jesus Christ which will last
anything up to 15 minutes.
Pray this prayer to be prepared: Oh my precious Jesus,embrace me in your arms and allow my head to rest upon your shoulders so that you can raise me up to your glorious kingdom when the time is right. Allow your precious blood to flow over my heart that we can be united as one.
I noticed that the British Prime Minister David Cameron called today's attacks in Kabul "cowardly" but then again, what can be more "cowardly" than the use of those ungodly drones, hurling 500lb. bombs on defenseless people in the Afghan countryside? Moreover, what about the filthy creeps who operate them, sitting behind their desks in an air conditioned office right here in the good ol' U.S of.A.?!?!?!
lol... Another comment from an idiot that's never been to War let alone Afghanistan.... Shut your mouth about things you know nothing about... Those Terrorists weren't exactly harmless on 9/11 now were they? you friggin moron... your parents shouldn't let you get on the internet... and let this be a lesson to mothers.... don't use crack... your kid will be as ignorant as this guy.
Very well said, George. And don't let this uneducated lemming Clinton here get to you. In fact, I wonder if this jerk is any relation to Hilary Clinton who already disgraces this country by representing it overseas with her arrogance and self-righteousness!!!
I totally agree, Dan. George pretty well nailed it above when he talked about those cursed drones and their most cowardly operators sitting behind their desks in their air conditioned offices here in America killing thousands of people needlessly. These bozoes need to be apprehended and taken to a war crimes tribunal and prosecuted to the fullest extent of international law for their very crimes against humanity!
THESE PEOPLE TEACH THEIR CHILDREN TO HATE YOU AMERICANS AND BECOME JIHADISTS FOR allah!
I think killing 15 year old high school kids who were sightseeing on 911, & a 8 1/2 month pregnant woman due for maternity leave the next week at the twin towers is worse. The drones are not DELIBERATELY TARGETING 3,000 CIVILIANS. Keep listening to the enemy propaganda though. Maybe they will let you serve them in a menial capacity, after they suicide bomb the world into following their orders.
Even OBL did not target deliberately those kids and pregnant woman. He targeted military structures (pentagon) and strategic Center of comand and control (Twin Towers). They were legitimate targets under US own definition, but it is not OBL faults if the enemy was hiding behind women and children .
George Patton – Very true. There is no comparison betwen a drone operation and a suicide bomber. The latter is a litlle more risky and requires more courage.
George Patton (I'm sure his corpse just sh1t itself knowing that you're using his name like this...)
You're right. Let's send your children to do the "boots on the ground" work. So much better to spill your children's blood than use some "creepy" drone. Get a grip on reality.
I have said it before and I will say it again! We need to get out of these 2 bit countries! The ONLY threat here is themselves. It is in their history and blood! They will kill each other off!
This blast was a celebration for the anniversary of Afghanistan infdependece from the UK. The New Zeland soldier killed should not be there.
Remember the good old days when the Taliban would simply execute woman in soccer stadiums, the locals forced to enter and watch, all because she failed to wear the veil. Or little girls having acid thrown into their faces for going to school, or blowing up thousand year old statutes. Those were the dayssssssss. Thanks Edith.
where is ur connection retard...
British Counsel, not Council.
Salerno
I agree with part of your assessment where you said some of the violence is cause by our military invasions. But as far as colonialism, I'm not sure. For example, when the extremists attack US interests, they usually announce that the attacks were in retaliation for our foreign policies. But when they attack their own people such as the case at this Mosque, they usually say what group was responsible for the attacks but they never really seem to state the reason for the attacks. They seldom do. And how is their government going to start addressing their demands or concerns if they never state what they are? Or do they just carryout these acts of violence for the fun of it? I'm still confused.
Muslim leadership was better before colonialism. For istance in Egypt a good leadership lasted until early 1900, but when the British retired they left disorder and pent up violence on the road. Islamic radicalization started in late 1700 and enhanced last century as consequence. Especially the British were responsible, but even the France in Syria and Algeria, or Italy in Libya and Ethiopia.
How does our military invasion of Afghanistan justify blowing up a house of worship in Pakistan? That logic doesn't work in the real world.
Because in that house there was a target, some US allie for sure.
I just don't understand the Muslim or Islamic world at all. Every so often, the Pakistan government accuses the US of drone strikes that inadvertently kill Pakistanian civilians. That is of course sad and unfortunate but yet, each month of every year, religious fanatics in the Muslim and Islamic world keep carryingout these hanous and outrageous attacks in places of worship, killing innocent civilians while they pray. Sme body please explain? First the Muslin world accuses the West of a double foreign policy that favors Israel and they say that the terrorist attacks they carryout is justification for these oppressive policies. But when you murder your own people in cold blood, who do you also blame the West for these acts of violence?
So why can't these governments bring all the different factions together and try to iron out their differences and try to learn what is really ailing them? And then try to come to some sort of compromise to alleviate all these senseless killings? Or perhaps I'm just optimistic or plain stupid. Then how do you curb these acts of violence in the Muslim world? This bothers me because all killings whether against Westerners or against Muslims are outrageous and unacceptable. So what can the Muslim world really do to stop these senseless killings? Please explain.
Part of the violence is caused by the US invasion. You can see Iraq Afghanistan and Libya. Another part of violence is caused by the changed Muslim leadership as consequence of the colonialism. The remaining part of violence is endemic.
If the west would stop interferring with middle east leadership it would be better. In fact any war enhances the vioence creating disorders and criminal gangs fighting for power.
Interesting. So before the US invaded, the Tliban was a peacful movement, right? And Al Qaeda did not exist, right? Violence begets violence is a classic liberal model. How naive. it's equivalent to saying police work begets more crime. Somehow, Mr. Salerno, you got cause and effect mixed up. Violence is not the result of colonialism (how long would the left keep blaming the 19th century?), nor the invasion. It is the result of the Taliban trying to re-seize power. it is a simple political weapon inspired and fuled by religious pretence.
Ben – you are confusing cause with effect. All the leadership (even if sometimes bad) manteined order in their countries: Saddam, Ghaddafi, Taliban. In all those 3 cases US attacks caused more violence even after the war ended.
Yea, Like Assad keeping order, the Muslims have been fighting and killing for power since Islam began and they will never stop!
It is not an american problem anyway.
JOe, i would like to reply you about this what you said, When somebody wants to dump you out of your house, what would you do? will you protect your family or stay like an idiot?
second thing: most of those peoples who does suicide bombing, is because they lost all the family, he has nothing to loose, and he is burned emotionally head to toe, so his revenge is to do the same thing to israeli citizen.
third: israeli attacks gaza with rockets, and when you see some innocent died which didn't had to do nothing with the war, a dad or a teenage son who lost his family burned in front of their eyes, what he would do? let it go? no he won't, because he will do the same thing to an israeli family,
NOTE: Real Muslim without personal issues, will never go do suicide bombing , its against religion. and those who does have no reason to live..
..
And this routing keep going on and on.. the only solution is.. The UN to make the country independent and to tell in their faces, You as Israeli no rights to attack the country, you as Afghanistani no rights to attack .. Big fines will be. Country will pay the Fines and consequences. and let's see how the Countries will make strict rules to citizen.
put some Soldiers there between the borders, for a while for stabilizing the situation till they get used to it, and problem solved...
So what is the mission in Afghanistan? O' yes it was president Obama who had to define the mission in Afghanistan some ten years later when he authorized our brave Navy Seals to take out OBL. And what is the end game in Afghanistan? O' yea, it was president Obama who had to also define the end game in Afghanistan some ten years later by setting a deadline for troop withdrawal from that country. And did I mention that our troops are coming home from Iraq too? Yea, Obama's foreign policy is sure flawed and ineffective. Imagine that!