Two radio stations attacked

SEPTEMBER 24, 2007
Reported September 27, 2007

Milli Paygham (National Message) radio station
Radio Istiqlal (Independence) radio station

ATTACKED

The two stations, both affiliates of Internews, a U.S.-based media training and advocacy group, were attacked at roughly the same time. Shortly after 12 a.m. September 24, a group of unknown gunmen attacked the Milli Paygham (National Message) radio station in the Mohammad Agha district of Logar province, about 31 miles (50 km) south of Kabul. Using small arms, the gunmen apparently intended to overtake the station, which is located next to a government security post. Two guards turned the attackers back, but one of possibly two rocket propelled grenades exploded and cut the cable leading to the transmission tower, badly injuring one of the guards.

At approximately the same time, there was another RPG attack near Radio Istiqlal (Independence) in Baraki Barak, also in Logar province. It is not clear if the station was the target or if the two attacks were connected. Radio Istiqlal is located near the government headquarters for the district. During the attack, a rocket landed next to the station’s security post but the station was not damaged. Radio Istiqlal was set up in April 2004, and had been burned down in October 2006 but was soon back on the air.