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World News See other World News Articles Title: A Policeman’s Bear Hug Stops a Suicide Bomber From Killing More A Policeman’s Bear Hug Stops a Suicide Bomber From Killing More The New York Times By ROD NORDLAND and FAHIM ABED 19 hrs ago © Rahmat Gul/Associated Press Security forces at the scene of a suicide bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Thursday. KABUL, Afghanistan — No one will ever know what went through the mind of Afghan Police Lt. Sayed Basam Pacha in those moments when he came face to face with a man he suspected of being a suicide bomber on Thursday afternoon, but whatever it was, he did not hesitate to act. At his back was a crowd of civilians, many of them dignitaries, leaving the hall he was guarding. Around him were officers from the police company he commanded. The suspect had just approached their heavily guarded gate, the only way in or out of the compound around the hall. Broad-shouldered and heavily muscled, Lieutenant Pacha shouted at the suspect to halt, but instead the man started running. The officer stopped him, throwing his arms around him in a bear hug. A second later the bomber detonated the explosive vest hidden under his coat. Fourteen people, including Lieutenant Pacha and seven other police officers as well as six civilians, were killed; 18 others were wounded, seven police and 11 civilians, said Basir Mujahed, a police spokesman. There was little doubt the death toll would have been far higher without the lieutenant’s body blunting the blast, Mr. Mujahed said. “He’s a hero, he saved many lives,” he said. “All seven of those policemen are heroes but especially him. Just think if that suicide attacker got past the gate, what would have happened — you cannot even imagine.” Lieutenant Pacha’s father, Gen. Sayed Nizam Agha, is also a police commander. “My son sacrificed himself to save other people,” General Agha said, proud but tearful when reached by telephone. He wept as he recounted his son’s story. “He had two bachelor degrees, one in political science and another one at the police academy,” the father said. “He studied five years in Turkey. He came back from Turkey a year and a half ago. He was 25 years old and he was single. He has three brothers and one sister. He and I are the only police in our family. He was a very sporty guy.” Weight lifting was his sport, his friends said. The general apologized and said he could not keep talking any longer; he was too overcome with emotion. He had one last thing to say though. “I lost my bodyguard in this incident as well,” the general said. He had assigned the bodyguard to assist his son at the event, which many high-profile political figures were attending. “He was my bodyguard for the last 15 years, he was like my son,” General Agha said. “His name was Noor Agha, he left three children behind.” Two journalists for Rah-e-Farda Radio and Television were also caught up in the attack, said an anchorman at the station, Ramazan Abdullahzada. A reporter, Taqi Sadid, was in critical condition and a cameraman, Hussain Nazari, was missing, he said. “We checked all the private hospitals and public hospitals, but couldn’t find him,” Mr. Abdullahzada said. “Now we are in front of the police hospital. I hope he will be here.” Although only on police duty in Kabul for a year and a half, Lieutenant Pacha had already received a commendation from his superiors, which he displayed proudly on his Facebook page. His current post was commander of the Second Company, Police District 4 in Kabul, which includes the Khairkhana area where the attack took place. Poster Comment: This story about a cop giving this guy a bear hug reminded me of something that happened at the Vic Theater in Chicago. We were working alternative music show and the one band trashed the dressing room. The Manager was yelling for them to get out and they would not leave. So they called the 2 cops back there. When it hit, one cop gave the girl a bear hug and the guy fell on the floor stomping his feet. I grabbed an arm and a leg and had him half way out the door before the other cop could grab him. I suppose the first cop was lucky the girl did not have an explosive vest under her garments. Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
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