Labour MEP John Attard Montalto witnessed an assassination attempt on Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai yesterday morning.
Suspected Taliban militants disrupted a ceremony attended by the Afghan President, spraying bullets from automatic weapons and sending foreign dignitaries and senior government members fleeing for cover. Two people were killed and nine wounded.
President Karzai escaped unhurt as he was quickly escorted from the scene, surrounded by bodyguards, in one of four black Land Cruisers.
Dr Attard Montalto, who is in Kabul as part of a delegation of MEPs from the European Parliament, told The Times a few minutes after the attempt that he had to take cover after shots rang out.
"It was a most frightening experience. President Karzai had just filed past in front the VIP section and the national anthem was being played to conclude the ceremony. All of a sudden shots rang out and there was panic. We had to duck for cover."
One of those seriously injured was an Afghan member of Parliament who was part of the EU-Afghanistan delegation. "He was hit by gunshot and was operated upon," an agitated Dr Attard Montalto said.
Associated Press quoted a Taliban spokesman claiming responsibility for the attack, saying it had deployed six militants with suicide vests and guns to target the President.
The gunfire appeared to come from ruined houses about a few hundred metres from where the VIPs were seated. Security forces opened fire at the houses.
President Karzai, who assumed the Presidency of Afghanistan soon after a US-led invasion ousted the Taliban regime in 2001, has been targeted by assassins before and is constantly shadowed by a phalanx of bodyguards.
For days Kabul has been ringed by checkpoints with security forces and plainclothes intelligence officials searching vehicles.
Dr Attard Montalto said the area where the ceremony marking the 16th anniversary of Afghanistan's victory over the Soviets took place had been sealed off by troops, tanks and armoured personnel carriers. "Kabul is practically under siege. Everywhere is closed off by heavy concrete slabs and the security is massive. We are travelling in armoured cars and our security personnel are heavily armed."
Asked whether the EP delegation will call off its week-long mission after this attempt, Dr Attard Montalto said the MEPs decided to stay on and continue with their work. "The only difference is that we were going to meet President Karzai tomorrow. Now the meeting has been rescheduled for Wednesday. However, following the attempt on Mr Karzai, Kabul is deserted. There is no one on the streets and cars have been banned," he said.