KABUL, Afghanistan — A suicide bomber made his way into a heavily guarded side street deep in the main diplomatic neighborhood of the Afghan capital early Wednesday and detonated an explosive vest when Afghan security guards demanded his identification. The blast killed three security guards and wounded two civilians, according to police officials.
Col. Dur Mohammed of Police District 10, who confirmed the deaths, said the bomber was accompanied by another man.
A second police officer, who was not authorized to speak to the press, and witnesses said both men were wearing private security uniforms and suicide vests. When they approached the checkpoint, the guards stopped them and asked for identification and when the men refused, the guards raised their weapons to shoot. It is not clear if the bomber then detonated his vest or if the shooting by the guards set off the bomb.
The Kabul police chief, Gen. Ayoub Mohammed Salangi, said the guards fired before the attackers reached them.
The three private security guards worked for Burhan Security Co. and guarded the Kabul Compound guesthouse, which is used by U.S. government employees, police officials said.
