Isidro Gabino “Gabi” San Martin Hernandez, EB1BT, of Leon, Spain, died on December 11 as the result of a 9 hour shootout in Kabul, Afghanistan. He was 48 and the father of four. San Martin was part of a police contingent guarding the Spanish Embassy in Kabul when a car bomb, believed set by the Taliban, exploded at the Embassy Guest House gate. The bombers then entered the compound, and a gun battle erupted. At least seven members of the diplomatic staff were killed, including San Martin and another police officer who died in the residential block of the embassy.

Europa Press reported that San Martin, who volunteered to serve at the embassy in Kabul, was stationed at the Police Intervention Unit of Oviedo, although on Friday he was working as part of the embassy security team. The online 20 Minutos reported that San Martin left a safe location to look for one of his colleagues and ran into gunfire.

According to an article posted in The Spain Report, the Afghan Interior Ministry claimed that Afghan Police Special Forces killed all of the attackers involved in the Friday night raid. Spanish authorities are still sorting out the details of the bombing and the resulting deaths.

Spanish flags have been ordered flown at half-mast for 3 days on police buildings. — Thanks to The Daily DX