KABUL — Canadian troops in Kabul were bitter, angry and sad Tuesday upon hearing that a suicide bomber had struck one of their patrols, and some believed the deadly attack was retribution for a recent shift in Canadian tactics.

The blast killed Cpl. Jamie Brendan Murphy of Conception Harbour, Nfld. Wounded are Lieut. Jason Matthew Feyko, 30, of Peterborough, Ont.; Cpl. Jeremy Gerald MacDonald, 30, of Burnt Islands, Nfld., and Cpl. Richard Michael Newman, 23, of Hartland, N.B.

Some of their comrades said the attack was retaliation for a night-time raid the Canadians carried out early last week, in which several suspected terrorists and alleged drug lords were apprehended.

"They stirred up a hornet's nest right before we go home," said one soldier who didn't want to be identified.

"It's payback."

On Jan. 18, the Canadian Forces, in concert with Kabul police, launched an early-morning raid on a compound in the Afghan capital, arresting potential terror suspects and seizing drugs, cash and weapons in their first offensive action since arriving in Afghanistan last August as part of the NATO-led international security force.

In all, 16 men were detained - all were later turned over to police.

Some Canadian soldiers expressed resentment at the recent change of tactics - going from street patrolling to direct action.

"It's not an army they're fighting out there," said one soldier, "and the brass doesn't seem to understand that."

"They're fighting people who've killed for less. This is all about drug money."

"They're the same guys who hop rockets at us; they're the same guys who have car bombings."

But others said the Canadians should be actively hunting down people responsible for the attack.

"We should have been out there within a couple of hours, looking for whoever was behind this," said another soldier.

"Instead, here we are, locked down on the base, not letting anybody go outside. So the terrorists win."

At their main base Tuesday, Canadian soldiers hugged and comforted each other as they tried to come to grips with the tragedy. Particularly emotional were some of the medics involved in helping the three injured soldiers.

Barb Putnam, a Baptist minister from Saint John, N.B., and one of three padres at Camp Julien, said she expects many soldiers will attempt to draw conclusions about what happened, and why, as they try to deal with their feelings.

"There's certainly going to be some anger. There's going to be a lot of sadness," said Putnam.

"There are quite a few people that knew the deceased soldier ... It's going to take some time to heal."

Most of the Canadians in Kabul are members of the Royal Canadian Regiment's 3rd Battalion, based at CFB Petawawa in eastern Ontario. They are in the process of returning to Canada as their replacements fly in from CFB Valcartier, near Quebec City.

"You're excited about going home and seeing your families, and then a reality check hits," Putnam said.

"We're not home yet. We're still here, still very much out there with a lot of things to do. Yes, we want to be back (home), but we've got to make sure we're very careful until we actually step on that plane and get off and see those great yellow ribbons and banners back in Petawawa."

It's not the first time the nearly 2,000 Canadian soldiers based in Kabul as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force have had to deal with emotional turmoil.

They faced it last fall when two other Canadians were killed. Sgt. Robert Short and Cpl. Robbie Beerenfenger died Oct. 2 when their Iltis jeep struck a landmine south of Kabul.

"This is the second time we've gone through this. It may be a little bit easier logistically but it's certainly no easier emotionally," said Putnam.

Putnam said she expects the soldiers will go through a range of emotions.

"It's tough for them to kind of figure out what they're feeling at the moment, but surely as the days go by they'll come to terms with what they saw and experienced in the loss of a friend."