A suicide bomber somehow managed to get inside the main U.S. military base in Afghanistan on Saturday and kill four Americans. Two U.S. service members and two civilian contractors were killed while 17 were wounded, of which 16 were Americans and one was a Polish service member. The attack took place early in the morning as people at Bagram air base were gathering for a “fun run” to mark Veterans Day, according to NBC News. The Taliban immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, which a spokesman for the group said had been planned for four months.
Although rocket attacks on large bases in Iraq and Afghanistan are relatively common “a suicide bomber making it inside one is almost unheard of,” notes the Washington Post. There has never been a suicide bombing inside Bagram since it was open for U.S. troops in late 2001. Although details are still scant, it seems the bomber “entered on foot hidden among a group of workers reporting for duty” at the base early in the morning, reports the New York Times.
“I want to express my sincere condolences to the families of the fallen, and I want to reassure the loved ones of those injured that they are getting the best possible care,” Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter said in a statement. “Force protection is always a top priority for us in Afghanistan, and we will investigate this tragedy to determine any steps we can take to improve it.”
