27.08.10 - 17:43 -
The funeral of the two Guards, attended by the Prince and Princess Asturias.
The funeral has taken place for two Civil Guards killed by a Taliban assassin who infiltrated the old Qala-i-Naw base which was being used as a training school for the Afghan security force. The terrorist was an ex-police man who was working as a chauffeur for the local Chief of Police and was well known at the base. Without warning he opened fire with a Kalashnikov on Wednesday and killed the two Spanish Guardia Civil trainers: Captain José María Galera Córdoba (33) and Second Lieutenant Leonicio Bravo Picallo (33).
He also shot dead an Iranian translator who had gained Spanish nationality 30 years ago. The other officers present immediately opened fire and shot the terrorist dead. On hearing the shots nearly 2,000 local people, some armed with sticks, came to the base clamouring for the body of the terrorist. The crowd was eventually dispersed after the army fired shots into the air. This incident has re-opened the debate as to whether the Spanish troops should be withdrawn from Afghanistan.
