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| UN staff killed in Kabul attack | UN staff killed in Kabul attack |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Six foreign UN employees have been killed and nine wounded in an attack in Kabul, the deadliest on the UN in Afghanistan since the Taliban's fall. | Six foreign UN employees have been killed and nine wounded in an attack in Kabul, the deadliest on the UN in Afghanistan since the Taliban's fall. |
| Three militants attacked a guesthouse used by the UN. They were later shot dead. Two Afghan security personnel and a civilian also died. | Three militants attacked a guesthouse used by the UN. They were later shot dead. Two Afghan security personnel and a civilian also died. |
| The Taliban said they carried out the attack, which comes 10 days before the second round of presidential elections. | The Taliban said they carried out the attack, which comes 10 days before the second round of presidential elections. |
| Later, rockets were fired at the city's five-star Serena Hotel. | Later, rockets were fired at the city's five-star Serena Hotel. |
| One or two rockets were said to have landed in the grounds of the hotel, which is used by diplomats and other foreigners. | One or two rockets were said to have landed in the grounds of the hotel, which is used by diplomats and other foreigners. |
| No-one has been reported injured there, but about 100 people inside at the time were taken to secure rooms as smoke filled the lobby. | No-one has been reported injured there, but about 100 people inside at the time were taken to secure rooms as smoke filled the lobby. |
| Taliban warning | Taliban warning |
| The attack at the guesthouse happened just before 0600 (0130 GMT), Afghan police and the UN said. | The attack at the guesthouse happened just before 0600 (0130 GMT), Afghan police and the UN said. |
| ANALYSIS Andrew North, BBC News, Kabul | ANALYSIS Andrew North, BBC News, Kabul |
| These attacks on two high-profile targets have spread a lot of fear. | These attacks on two high-profile targets have spread a lot of fear. |
| Security preparations were getting under way to protect the vote on 7 November. There are thousands of Afghan troops in and around Kabul but determined militants are still able to get through. | Security preparations were getting under way to protect the vote on 7 November. There are thousands of Afghan troops in and around Kabul but determined militants are still able to get through. |
| The UN guesthouses have to conform to specific rules on security but we don't know how these militants were able to get through the security. | The UN guesthouses have to conform to specific rules on security but we don't know how these militants were able to get through the security. |
| The private Bekhtar Guesthouse is used by the UN and other international organisations. | The private Bekhtar Guesthouse is used by the UN and other international organisations. |
| The US embassy confirmed one of the dead was an American. | |
| Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack in a telephone call to the Associated Press. | Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack in a telephone call to the Associated Press. |
| He said three Taliban militants with suicide vests, grenades and machine guns had carried out the assault. | He said three Taliban militants with suicide vests, grenades and machine guns had carried out the assault. |
| UN spokesman Aleem Siddique told the BBC there was gunfire and an explosion outside the building as UN employees tried to flee. Streets were cordoned off by police. | UN spokesman Aleem Siddique told the BBC there was gunfire and an explosion outside the building as UN employees tried to flee. Streets were cordoned off by police. |
| The three gunmen were shot dead and the incident ended at about 0830 local time. | The three gunmen were shot dead and the incident ended at about 0830 local time. |
| It was not immediately known how many people were inside the guesthouse at the time. The building was gutted by fire. | It was not immediately known how many people were inside the guesthouse at the time. The building was gutted by fire. |
| Much of the gunfire was random - security guards shooting at nothing Kabul eyewitness In pictures: Kabul UN attacks US to pay Taliban to switch sides | Much of the gunfire was random - security guards shooting at nothing Kabul eyewitness In pictures: Kabul UN attacks US to pay Taliban to switch sides |
| One foreign Kabul resident told the BBC the attack involved multiple grenades and automatic weapons. | One foreign Kabul resident told the BBC the attack involved multiple grenades and automatic weapons. |
| "I saw people on the roof [security guards] and one woman climbed down from a second storey balcony after she had stood screaming and shouting for about five minutes for someone to come help her. Much of the gunfire was random - security guards shooting at nothing," he said. | "I saw people on the roof [security guards] and one woman climbed down from a second storey balcony after she had stood screaming and shouting for about five minutes for someone to come help her. Much of the gunfire was random - security guards shooting at nothing," he said. |
| The US embassy condemned the attack, saying it was "shocked and saddened". | |
| "Attacking civilian workers will not lessen our determination to support the Afghan people and their election process," the embassy said. | |
| The Bekhtar guesthouse was gutted by fire | The Bekhtar guesthouse was gutted by fire |
| Afghan interior ministry spokesman Zemarai Bashary said the operation was now over, and the security forces were in control of the building. | |
| Mr Bashary praised the effectiveness of the security operation and said he hoped this would not point to further attacks in the run-up to the voting. | Mr Bashary praised the effectiveness of the security operation and said he hoped this would not point to further attacks in the run-up to the voting. |
| "We are preparing to strengthen the vulnerable points and the security belt for the centre of the city," he told the BBC. | "We are preparing to strengthen the vulnerable points and the security belt for the centre of the city," he told the BBC. |
| But the Taliban spokesman said they had threatened to target anyone working on the Afghan run-off presidential election between incumbent Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah. | But the Taliban spokesman said they had threatened to target anyone working on the Afghan run-off presidential election between incumbent Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah. |
| "This is our first attack," he said. | "This is our first attack," he said. |
| Another UN spokesman, Adrian Edwards, said: "This has clearly been a very serious incident for us. We've not had an incident like this in the past." | Another UN spokesman, Adrian Edwards, said: "This has clearly been a very serious incident for us. We've not had an incident like this in the past." |
| The BBC's Ian Pannell in Kabul says that given the huge number of security personnel in the city, it is difficult to see how security there could be increased further. | The BBC's Ian Pannell in Kabul says that given the huge number of security personnel in the city, it is difficult to see how security there could be increased further. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| The UN is playing a leading role in organising the run-off election and our correspondent says it is clearly a tactic of the Taliban to prevent its staff from going about their business safely. | The UN is playing a leading role in organising the run-off election and our correspondent says it is clearly a tactic of the Taliban to prevent its staff from going about their business safely. |
| A BBC correspondent in Geneva says the UN is working on the immediate measures it can take but that the attack is certain to spark a rethink about both security and the UN aid agency presence in Afghanistan. | A BBC correspondent in Geneva says the UN is working on the immediate measures it can take but that the attack is certain to spark a rethink about both security and the UN aid agency presence in Afghanistan. |
| There has been heightened tension in Afghanistan following the first round of the presidential election, which was marred by widespread fraud. | There has been heightened tension in Afghanistan following the first round of the presidential election, which was marred by widespread fraud. |
| Are you in Kabul? Did you witness the explosion or the gunfire? Send us your stories using the form below. | Are you in Kabul? Did you witness the explosion or the gunfire? Send us your stories using the form below. |
| You can also send us your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. | You can also send us your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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