By JASON STRAZIUSO, Associated Press Writer 59 minutes ago
KABUL, Afghanistan - A powerful and sophisticated type of roadside bomb prevalent in Iraq but not seen before in Afghanistan was discovered near a university in Kabul last week, prompting a rare countrywide warning to NATO and Afghan troops.
The bomb, known as an EFP, or explosively formed projectile, was notable for its level of sophistication and similarity to those seen in Iraq, said Maj. John Thomas, a spokesman for NATO's International Security Assistance Force.
NATO officials say they don't know where the bomb came from.
"The kind that we're talking about is machined. It has to be fabricated to pretty certain specifications ... by somebody who knows what he's doing," Thomas said. "The next question is how similar is it to those made in Iraq, and the answer is considerably similar."
Thomas said there was no evidence to suspect a certain manufacturer, nation or even region as the source. He said Iran or al-Qaida elements in Iraq or Pakistan were all possibilities.
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Thomas confirmed that NATO issued the warning, saying the rare Afghanistan-wide message showed it was concerned.
"The guys who are working counter-IEDs (improvised explosive devices) are professionally alarmed in the sense they were hoping they wouldn't see these" in Afghanistan, Thomas said. "I don't think people are completely overwhelmed by the idea, because we knew it was a pretty good possibility."
Military officials and analysts say Taliban militants have long copied Iraqi insurgents' tactics, but suicide and roadside bombs here have never been anywhere near as deadly or sophisticated as those in Iraq, where armor-piercing EFPs have killed hundreds of U.S. soldiers.
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