Afghan soldier lauded for thwarting Parliament attack

KABUL, Afghanistan, June 23 (UPI) -- An Afghan soldier was honored Tuesday for killing all six gunmen who attacked Afghanistan's Parliament in Kabul earlier this week.

Lance Cpl. Esa Khan, 28, of the Afghan National Army said he was on guard duty as lawmakers convened Monday, and after a car bomb exploded, saw Taliban militants attempt to enter the building.

"One by one. I killed all of them. Their bodies are there. Everyone can see them," said Khan.

An original report by Afghan authorities indicated seven people attacked the heavily-guarded Parliament building. The assailants killed two people, a woman and a 10-year-old girl.

Over 30 were injured in the car bomb blast, which also left a large hole in the pavement near a building entrance.

Khan was congratulated by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in a meeting Tuesday and was given a new apartment as a reward. He will also receive a medal and a promotion.

Khan was honorably discharged after three years with the Afghan army and returned to military life guarding the parliament, "because of the love he had for his country," a Defense ministry statement said.