U.S. Embassy says police shot and killed suicide bomber outside Israeli Embassy in Tashkent
Police shot and killed a suicide bomber outside the Israeli Embassy in the Uzbek capital on Friday, the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent said.
Police had sealed off the street where the embassy is located but denied that anything was amiss. However, the U.S. embassy said in a warden message on its Web site that an attacker had been killed. It did not report any other casualties.
"There was an incident right outside the Israeli embassy in Tashkent and it is under investigation," said Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev, giving no further details. No one answered phones at the Israeli Embassy in Tashkent.
The shooting came as tensions rose in the Central Asian nation. Armed protesters freed inmates from a prison overnight and shooting was reported in the eastern city of Andijan on Friday as thousands of activists rallied to protest the trial of 23 Muslim businessmen on extremism charges.
Uzbek President Islam Karimov and other leaders were flying to the eastern city, Andijan, while the Defense Ministry held an urgent meeting on the unrest, police and government officials said on condition of anonymity.
In southern Tashkent, dozens of police stood at either end of Abdulla Kahhor Street, where the Israeli Embassy is located, on Friday morning and prevented people from approaching. The building itself was surrounded by red police tape. An ambulance was seen entering the area.
It was the second known attempted suicide attack against the Israeli Embassy in a year. In July, two Uzbek guards including the ambassador's personal bodyguard were killed in a suicide bombing at the embassy. The U.S. Embassy and Uzbek prosecutors' office were also targeted in nearly simultaneous suicide attacks then, which killed seven people in all.
Uzbek leaders blamed Islamic extremists for the bombings.
Warden Message - Urgent - Reports of Violence in Tashkent and Andijan(05/13/2005)
THE FOLLOWING IS A MESSAGE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE CONSULAR WARDEN SYSTEM OF THE AMERICAN EMBASSY IN TASHKENT.
Embassy Tashkent has confirmed that a suicide bomber was shot outside of the Israeli Embassy this morning (May 13).
The U.S. Government has received reports of gunfire and possible explosions in the city of Andijan. BBC is reporting that a group of armed men took over the prison and released prisoners. American citizens are urged to stay off the streets. The Embassy has also confirmed that at least one of the Uzbek-Kazakh border crossings north of Tashkent has been closed. Travelers should avoid traveling to Andijan at this time.
For the latest security information, Americans living or traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet website at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Public Announcement for Uzbekistan, the Central Asia Regional Public Announcement, and Worldwide Caution Public Announcement can be found. American citizens may also obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States or Canada, and 202-501-4444 from overseas. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
U.S. citizens are urged to register and update their contact information at the U.S. embassy in Tashkent. The U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan is located at 82 Chilanzarskaya St., Tashkent, Uzbekistan 700115. The telephone number is 998-71-120-5450. The fax number is 998-71-120-6335, and website is www.usembassy.uz/consular.