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Four members of the IMU suicide assault team that attacked the US PRT in Panjshir. Image from the IMU’s website, Furqon. |
The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan claimed that the Oct. 15 suicide attack at the Provincial Reconstruction Team base in Panjshir was carried out “in cooperation with [the] Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.” The attack in the normally peaceful province killed two security guards. The following translation of the IMU statement, which was released on its website in Uzbek on Oct. 17, is from the SITE Intelligence Group:
…our 5 devoted mujahideen – Abdul Salam Ata, (Uzbekistan, Navoi region), Sohail (Kunduz, Gurtepa), Mustafa (Kunduz, Dashti Archi), Abdul Basir (Baghlan, Burka), Sohail (Tahor) – in cooperation with [the] Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, launched an attack against an American Crusader occupation base.
The IMU said the suicide bomber who rammed the gate was 56 years old:
One of the veteran members of the IMU, 56-year old Abdul Salam Ata, who joined the IMU 12 years ago, has been waiting for this moment with much longing. At around 5AM in the morning, Abdul Salam Ata directed a ‘Surf’ automobile, which was loaded with 600kg of explosives, to the gates and rammed it, exploding him and the vehicle.
The IMU had initially claimed credit for the attack in a statement released on Oct. 16 that contained two photographs of four of the suicide bombers.
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