KANDAHAR, 26 April 2004 — Afghan police have arrested a man who was allegedly preparing to throw a grenade at the passing convoy of President Hamid Karzai in the city of Kandahar, security officers said yesterday.
“A suspect was arrested with a grenade this morning in Shekar Tur Bazaar, close to a road which was to be used by the presidential convoy a few minutes later,” provincial military spokesman Abdul Lali told AFP.
“The individual was hiding behind a house close to the road. He was probably waiting for information from his accomplices on the movement of the convoy,” he added.
Karzai escaped an assassination attempt in the southern city in September 2002 when a guard opened fire on the president’s vehicle as he was leaving the governor’s residence.
Four people, including the attacker, were killed in that assassination bid.
Karzai, who had been in the southern Afghan city since Saturday, was returning from his home village of Karz, around 20 km (12 miles) south of the city, where he had been visiting his father’s grave.
The apparent assassination attempt was foiled at around 10.30 a.m., just minutes before Karzai’s convoy was due to pass. Military commander of Kandahar province and commander of the Afghan 2nd corps, Gen. Khan Mohammad, also confirmed the foiled attack.
