Five killed as soldiers fire on wedding minibus

TALAS — Five people were killed and three wounded late on Saturday when United States Army military police at a temporary checkpoint on the Trans-Talas Highway at the western edge of Talas opened fire on a minibus carrying members of a family home from a wedding in Kyzyl-Adyr.

The checkpoint was one of several set up on the approaches to Talas Air Base last week after a threat warning. According to the passengers who survived, the driver did not understand the orders shouted in English or the flashlight signals and did not stop. The driver and four passengers, all members of the same family, were killed. The wounded are in the Regional Hospital.

The US command at the base said it "deeply regrets the loss of life" and that an investigation had been opened. Under the 2001 basing agreement, offences committed by US personnel in the performance of official duty fall under American jurisdiction.

By last night candles had been placed along the verge of the highway at the place where the minibus stopped, and several hundred people stood there in silence. A relative of the family, who had been at the wedding, said the bride and groom had gone home by another road. "They were lucky," he said. "This is what we call lucky now."