Huge car bomb explodes outside US consulate in Herat, western Afghanistan

[The Straight Story]

Afghan blast near US consulate
Breaking news

Huge car bomb explodes outside US consulate in Herat, western Afghanistan

More to follow.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24075687#TWEET888139

AJELive ‏@AJELive 1m

The US consulate in #Herat, #Afghanistan reportedly hit by explosions and gunfire, with nine injured. http://aje.me/15ZdH2x

[MADem]

1. They've added a few small details....

Taliban insurgents say a suicide bomber detonated explosives, and other fighters tried to attack the complex.

There are reports of ongoing fighting near the building.

It is the latest in a series of attacks ahead of the withdrawal of foreign combat troops from Afghanistan next year.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24075687#TWEET888139

[kenny blankenship]

2. Pardon Our Dust - We've been remodeling the Islamic World!

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. OMG!!!

Sure needed to see that today....

[Tx4obama]

3. Additional post with screenshots of AP tweets, on link below

Here: http://www.mediaite.com/online/breaking-u-s-consulate-in-afghanistan-under-attack/

[Agnosticsherbet]

4. Cue Benghazi truth ears.

Republic of Tea attack.

[Tx4obama]

5. A link below to a CNN article

Here: http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/12/world/asia/us-consulate-afghanistan-attack/index.html

[FarCenter]

6. Unfortuanately we backed Karzai the Pashtun's removal of Ismail Kahn the Tajik as governor of Herat

Replacing a competent Northern Alliance commander with Karzai's allies. The current governor is a Pashtun.

[MADem]

7. A bit more...

An Afghan army spokesman told the BBC that the initial explosion had damaged outer defences of the US consulate, allowing the attackers to breach the perimeter and shoot at the consulate buildings.

Herat, close to the Iranian border, has been relatively peaceful in recent years.

The BBC's David Loyn in Kabul says the attack - carried out in the shadow of the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the US - is a demonstration of the ability of insurgents still to disrupt Afghanistan 12 years on.

Earlier this month Taliban targeted the Torkham US base in eastern Afghanistan, sparking a lengthy gun battle in which three insurgents were killed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24075687#TWEET888139