Peacekeepers hit by second grenade attack this week

KABUL, Afghanistan -- A man exploded a grenade Thursday at international peacekeeping headquarters in Kabul, the second attack on peacekeepers this week. A man presumed to be the assailant was killed, and two French citizens and two Afghans were injured.

Authorities overpowered and arrested a second man found with grenades before he could detonate them, said Abdul Raouf Taj, divisional police chief in Kabul. The injured were two French civilians working for an aid organization, and two Afghan translators employed by the peacekeepers, but no peacekeepers were wounded, said British Maj. Gordon Mackenzie, a spokesman for the international force. It was unclear why the victims were at the base.

The attack sent a chill through the international community here, already on edge after a grenade assault Tuesday that injured two U.S. special forces soldiers and their Afghan translator.

Although police and peacekeepers gave conflicting details of Thursday's attack, it appeared the attacker had approached the compound, removed the pin from the grenade and prepared to throw it when guards stopped him. He threw the grenade to the ground, injuring three Afghans nearby.

Compound guards opened fire, and it was unclear if the man believed to be the attacker died from the explosion or from gunshots.

There was no damage to the peacekeepers' compound.

Security has been beefed up in the capital since Tuesday's assault on U.S. soldiers, with extra police manning checkpoints.