As the ceremony was about to begin, the bomber, dressed as a medical professional was stopped by Afghan National Police inside the compound. As he was being questioned he took off running towards the ceremony.
As ANP forces chased the suspect, Coalition forces verbally instructed him to stop. When he did not, they engaged with small arms fire, hitting the bomber several times. A U.S. Soldier wrestled him to the ground, restraining him long enough to allow the crowd of people to move safely away. He was able to break free from the bomber prior to the explosion. He sustained only minor injuries from the blast.