This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/8538005.stm
The article has changed 22 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 14 | Version 15 |
|---|---|
| Suicide attack on Afghan capital | Suicide attack on Afghan capital |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Explosions and gunfire in the centre of the Afghan capital, Kabul, have left at least 17 people dead, officials say. | Explosions and gunfire in the centre of the Afghan capital, Kabul, have left at least 17 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. |
| ANALYSIS Martin Patience, BBC News, Kabul | ANALYSIS Martin Patience, BBC News, Kabul |
| This is the second attack in Kabul since the start of the year and the tactics appeared to be the same: using multiple attackers and suicide bombers for maximum impact. | This is the second attack in Kabul since the start of the year and the tactics appeared to be the same: using multiple attackers and suicide bombers for maximum impact. |
| Because the attack took place early in the morning, it is possible that the militants were trying to target foreigners sleeping in the guesthouses at the time. An attack on a UN guesthouse in October 2009 used similar tactics. | Because the attack took place early in the morning, it is possible that the militants were trying to target foreigners sleeping in the guesthouses at the time. An attack on a UN guesthouse in October 2009 used similar tactics. |
| Whatever the motive, the Taliban - who said they carried out the latest attack - want to demonstrate that they can strike anywhere in the country. The movement is determined to show that the Afghan government and Western forces cannot control the security situation across the country and, in this case, the capital. | Whatever the motive, the Taliban - who said they carried out the latest attack - want to demonstrate that they can strike anywhere in the country. The movement is determined to show that the Afghan government and Western forces cannot control the security situation across the country and, in this case, the capital. |
| 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. |
| The BBC's Martin Patience, in Kabul, says the first blast on Friday happened at 0630 local time (0200 GMT) close to the Kabul City Centre shopping area and the Safi Landmark Hotel. | |
| The Park Residence Hotel, 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, 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. |
| Indian nationals were said to be staying in hotels in the area. | |
| 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. |
| "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." |
| 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 convoy href="/2/hi/in_pictures/8538110.stm">In pictures: Kabul attack class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/8536046.stm">Operation Moshtarak's 'progress' | |
| Another witness, known only as Dr Azizi, said he was sleeping in his office 200m away when the first explosion occurred. | Another witness, known only as 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...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...military personnel on the streets of Kabul, how do the terrorists still get in?" |
| Operation Moshtarak continues in Helmand in the south, aiming to drive the Taliban from their strongholds around Nad Ali and Marjah. | Operation Moshtarak continues in Helmand in the south, aiming 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. |
| Are you in the area? If you have any information you wish to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below: | Are you in the area? If you have any information you wish to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below: |
| You can send pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can click here to upload. | You can send pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can click here to upload. |
| Click here to see terms and conditions | Click here to see terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |