2007 Bagram Air Base bombing
Encyclopedia
The 2007 Bagram Airfield bombing was a suicide attack
that killed up to 23 people and injured 20 more at the Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan
, while Dick Cheney
, the Vice President of the United States
, was visiting. The attack occurred inside one of the security gates surrounding the heavily guarded base 60 km north of Kabul
.
In 2007, Bagram was the main US airbase in Afghanistan.
On February 27, at about 10 am local time, a suicide bomber attacked the outer gate of the base, killing 23 people and injuring at least 20 others. Among the dead were an American soldier, PFC Daniel Zizumbo; an American contractor; Yoon Jang-ho
, a South Korean soldier; and 20 Afghan workers at the base.
US Vice President Dick Cheney was on the base at the time of the attack, having arrived in Afghanistan the previous day to meet with US Allies. US officials reported that the Vice President was never in danger and he was about 1 mile away from the explosion. A purported Taliban spokesman, Qari Yousef Ahmadi, told the Associated Press that the Taliban had advance knowledge of Cheney's visit and Cheney was the intended target-- claims that were met with skepticism by US officials. One US spokesman called them "far-fetched" and observed that "the vice president wasn't even supposed to be here overnight, so this would have been a surprise to everybody." Another US spokesman, Lt. Col. David Accetta, reported that the attacker did not attempt to pass any of the U.S. security checkpoints, but instead detonated himself amongst a group of Afghans. Accetta was quoted as saying "To characterize this as a direct attempt on the life of the vice president is absurd"
Suicide attack
A suicide attack is a type of attack in which the attacker expects or intends to die in the process.- Historical :...
that killed up to 23 people and injured 20 more at the Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, while Dick Cheney
Dick Cheney
Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush....
, the Vice President of the United States
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
, was visiting. The attack occurred inside one of the security gates surrounding the heavily guarded base 60 km north of Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
.
In 2007, Bagram was the main US airbase in Afghanistan.
On February 27, at about 10 am local time, a suicide bomber attacked the outer gate of the base, killing 23 people and injuring at least 20 others. Among the dead were an American soldier, PFC Daniel Zizumbo; an American contractor; Yoon Jang-ho
Yoon Jang-ho
Yoon Jang-ho was a sergeant serving as an English translator in Afghanistan as a member of the Dasan Engineering Unit, which is part of the South Korean military. He was killed during a suicide bomb attack on a military base in Bagram on February 27, 2007...
, a South Korean soldier; and 20 Afghan workers at the base.
US Vice President Dick Cheney was on the base at the time of the attack, having arrived in Afghanistan the previous day to meet with US Allies. US officials reported that the Vice President was never in danger and he was about 1 mile away from the explosion. A purported Taliban spokesman, Qari Yousef Ahmadi, told the Associated Press that the Taliban had advance knowledge of Cheney's visit and Cheney was the intended target-- claims that were met with skepticism by US officials. One US spokesman called them "far-fetched" and observed that "the vice president wasn't even supposed to be here overnight, so this would have been a surprise to everybody." Another US spokesman, Lt. Col. David Accetta, reported that the attacker did not attempt to pass any of the U.S. security checkpoints, but instead detonated himself amongst a group of Afghans. Accetta was quoted as saying "To characterize this as a direct attempt on the life of the vice president is absurd"