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| Suicide attack on Afghan capital | Suicide attack on Afghan capital |
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| Explosions and gunfire in the centre of the Afghan capital, Kabul, have left at least 14 people dead, officials say. | Explosions and gunfire in the centre of the Afghan capital, Kabul, have left at least 14 people dead, officials say. |
| A suicide bomber detonated explosives near Kabul's main shopping centre. Several smaller blasts followed and two other attackers were shot dead. | A suicide bomber detonated explosives near Kabul's main shopping centre. Several smaller blasts followed and two other attackers were shot dead. |
| A spokesman for the Taliban said they carried out the attacks. Two policemen are reported to be among the dead. | A spokesman for the Taliban said they carried out the attacks. Two policemen are reported to be among the dead. |
| The violence comes as Nato and Afghan forces continue Operation Moshtarak to tackle the Taliban in Helmand province. | The violence comes as Nato and Afghan forces continue Operation Moshtarak to tackle the Taliban in Helmand province. |
| Kabul has been relatively quiet since 18 January, when Taliban bombers and gunmen attacked government targets and shopping malls, killing 12 people. | Kabul has been relatively quiet since 18 January, when Taliban bombers and gunmen attacked government targets and shopping malls, killing 12 people. |
| Friday's attack is also the Taliban's first major raid since the arrest of key leader, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, in Pakistan this month. | Friday's attack is also the Taliban's first major raid since the arrest of key leader, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, in Pakistan this month. |
| Crying and shouting | Crying and shouting |
| The BBC's Martin Patience, in Kabul, says the first blast happened at 0630 local time (0200 GMT) close to the Kabul City Centre shopping area and the Safi Landmark Hotel. | The BBC's Martin Patience, in Kabul, says the first blast happened at 0630 local time (0200 GMT) close to the Kabul City Centre shopping area and the Safi Landmark Hotel. |
| With all the police checkpoints and tens of thousands of police and military personnel on the streets of Kabul, how do the terrorists still get in? Dr Azizi, eyewitness Operation Moshtarak's 'progress' | With all the police checkpoints and tens of thousands of police and military personnel on the streets of Kabul, how do the terrorists still get in? Dr Azizi, eyewitness Operation Moshtarak's 'progress' |
| The Park Residence Hotel, a guesthouse popular with foreigners, was also close to the main blast and there are unconfirmed reports that a number of foreign nationals may have been killed. | The Park Residence Hotel, a guesthouse popular with foreigners, was also close to the main blast and there are unconfirmed reports that a number of foreign nationals may have been killed. |
| At least 32 people are reported to have been injured in the attacks. | At least 32 people are reported to have been injured in the attacks. |
| Kabul police official Abdul Ghafor Sayedzada said a building in front of the hotel had caught fire. | Kabul police official Abdul Ghafor Sayedzada said a building in front of the hotel had caught fire. |
| At least two smaller explosions were reported and security forces exchanged fire with gunmen for several hours after sealing off the area. | At least two smaller explosions were reported and security forces exchanged fire with gunmen for several hours after sealing off the area. |
| Sirens blared across the city and announcements from loudspeakers warned people to stay indoors. | Sirens blared across the city and announcements from loudspeakers warned people to stay indoors. |
| A British national staying at the Safi Landmark, Brian Briscombe, told the BBC he awoke to shattered glass and smoke. | A British national staying at the Safi Landmark, Brian Briscombe, told the BBC he awoke to shattered glass and smoke. |
| He stayed in his hotel room for 30 minutes but then decided to leave. | He stayed in his hotel room for 30 minutes but then decided to leave. |
| RECENT KABUL ATTACKS 18 Jan 2010: Taliban attack government targets and shopping malls, killing 1215 Dec 09: Six killed in suicide attack near hotel in Wazir Akbar Khan district24 Oct 09: Six UN staff and three Afghans killed in attack on UN guesthouse8 Oct 09: Suicide bomber attacks Indian embassy, killing at least 1717 Sept 09: Six Italian soldiers and 10 Afghans die in military convoy blast18 Aug 09: Suicide blast kills 10 in attack on Western troop convoy11 Feb 09: Assault on three government buildings kills 27, including eight attackers | |
| "My hand was gashed and I wanted to get it treated. But a jumpy soldier screamed and almost shot me because he saw my backpack and thought for 10 seconds that I was a suicide bomber. Luckily he calmed down and I was allowed to leave." | "My hand was gashed and I wanted to get it treated. But a jumpy soldier screamed and almost shot me because he saw my backpack and thought for 10 seconds that I was a suicide bomber. Luckily he calmed down and I was allowed to leave." |
| Another witness, Dr Azizi, said he was sleeping in his office 200m away when the first explosion occurred. | Another witness, Dr Azizi, said he was sleeping in his office 200m away when the first explosion occurred. |
| "After the initial bang, I heard two or more explosions and then gunfire. The message... is that we are not safe. With all the police checkpoints and tens of thousands of police and military personnel on the streets of Kabul, how do the terrorists still get in?" | "After the initial bang, I heard two or more explosions and then gunfire. The message... is that we are not safe. With all the police checkpoints and tens of thousands of police and military personnel on the streets of Kabul, how do the terrorists still get in?" |
| Although the shopping centre is in the heart of Kabul, our correspondent says the timing of the explosion - in the morning at the start of what is effectively the Afghan weekend - meant few people were likely to be in the area. | Although the shopping centre is in the heart of Kabul, our correspondent says the timing of the explosion - in the morning at the start of what is effectively the Afghan weekend - meant few people were likely to be in the area. |
| The attacks come as Operation Moshtarak continues in Helmand in the south. | The attacks come as Operation Moshtarak continues in Helmand in the south. |
| The aim is to drive the Taliban from their strongholds around Nad Ali and Marjah. | The aim is to drive the Taliban from their strongholds around Nad Ali and Marjah. |
| On Thursday, Maj Gen Nick Carter, commander of troops in southern Afghanistan, told the BBC there had been "a great deal of progress" in establishing security. | On Thursday, Maj Gen Nick Carter, commander of troops in southern Afghanistan, told the BBC there had been "a great deal of progress" in establishing security. |
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