Incident Summary:

12/21/2020: Assailants opened fire on a security checkpoint in Arab Ha, Kunduz, Afghanistan. This was one of two related attacks on checkpoints in the area on this date. At least five assailants and four police officers, including a district commander, were killed while three assailants and four officers were injured across both attacks. In addition, six police officers were taken hostage. The outcome of the kidnapping is unknown. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the incidents.

GTD ID:
202012210016

When:
2020-12-21

Country:
Afghanistan

Region:
South Asia

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Kunduz

City:
Arab Ha

Location Details:
The incident occurred in Chahar Dara district.

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Armed Assault
Type of Attack (more) Hostage Taking (Kidnapping)
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Police
Name of Entity Afghan Police
Specific Description Checkpoint
Nationality of Target Afghanistan
Additional Information
Hostages Yes
Number of Hostages 3
US Hostages 0
Outcome Unknown
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Minor (likely < $1 million)
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Firearms Unknown Gun Type
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?Yes
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Additional Information This incident is part of a set of coordinated attacks in which non-military entities were targeted. Sources report conflicting casualty numbers; lowest figure used here. Casualties represent a division of the total number of fatalities, injuries and hostages across incidents 202012210015 and 202012210016.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Taliban Yes (Confirmed: Unknown; Mode: Unknown)
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 4 Fatalities / 3 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 4
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 2
Total Number of Injured 3
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 1
Sources
"Afghanistan- District police chief among 15 dead in Taliban attacks in Baghlan, Kunduz," MENAFN - Business & Finance News (English), December 22, 2020.
"North Afghan district police chief said killed in Taliban attack," Afghan Islamic Press news agency, December 22, 2020.