This morning, an Italian specialized unit in explosive disposal, belonging to Task Force Centre, was warned by the Afghan Police about a possible Improvised Explosive Device (IED) found under a Ring Road´s bridge, 6 km east from Shindand base, Herat province.
The unit arrived on the spot, reinforced by Italian mountain troops, that have cordoned the area. The container was in the indicated position and was confirmed as an IED. After assessing the difficulties to examinate and disable the bomb, specialists have opted for a distant blast, using elite snipers who arrived from the base. The explosion did not cause any damage to persons or properties, and did not harm the bridge structure whatsoever.
While the blast ocurred, another explosion was heard, about 1 km southern, again on the Ring Road. Immediately they were reported that a local police patrol was involved in the explosion of another bomb.
Task Force Centre units rushed to the spot, where an Afghan Police vehicle was partially destroyed but the agents on board were not injured. Again, the area was cordoned and secured to allow the investigation of the case and the search - with Mine Detection Dogs (MDD) assets - of other possible booby traps.
In previous days, other IEDs were discovered and deactivated in Regional Command West. 
IEDs remain as the main threat not only to International Coalition Forces and Afghan National Security Forces, but increasingly they are proving fatal to civilians. Recent ISAF statistics throughout Afghanistan, show that only in the first half of 2010, more than 1,360 civilians were victims of the insurgency, mainly due to booby traps. This figures represent an increase of 12% over the same period, the last year.
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