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Afghan Taliban attack on hotel near Kabul ends | Afghan Taliban attack on hotel near Kabul ends |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Afghan security forces have ended a 12-hour attack by Taliban militants on a hotel outside Kabul, in which at least 20 people died, officials say. | Afghan security forces have ended a 12-hour attack by Taliban militants on a hotel outside Kabul, in which at least 20 people died, officials say. |
Insurgents attacked the Spozhmai Hotel in the Lake Qargha area on Thursday night, taking many hostages. | Insurgents attacked the Spozhmai Hotel in the Lake Qargha area on Thursday night, taking many hostages. |
Kabul's police chief said 15 civilians, including hotel guests, died. All five insurgents were killed. | Kabul's police chief said 15 civilians, including hotel guests, died. All five insurgents were killed. |
The Taliban claimed the attack, saying the hotel was used by wealthy Afghans and foreigners for "wild parties". | The Taliban claimed the attack, saying the hotel was used by wealthy Afghans and foreigners for "wild parties". |
Lake Qargha is on the outskirts of Kabul and is favoured by residents of the Afghan capital for day trips and family outings. | Lake Qargha is on the outskirts of Kabul and is favoured by residents of the Afghan capital for day trips and family outings. |
The Taliban say they were attacking an "immoral" lakeside hotel. In fact, they picked an easy target - Afghan families, celebrating the weekend, by a lake which offers some relief from the heat and dust of Kabul. The unarmed guests were taken hostage by men with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. | The Taliban say they were attacking an "immoral" lakeside hotel. In fact, they picked an easy target - Afghan families, celebrating the weekend, by a lake which offers some relief from the heat and dust of Kabul. The unarmed guests were taken hostage by men with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. |
The insurgents said this was a hotel frequented by foreigners. Some foreigners do visit the area, but usually on day trips. Few stay overnight. There aren't foreign troops in the area. | The insurgents said this was a hotel frequented by foreigners. Some foreigners do visit the area, but usually on day trips. Few stay overnight. There aren't foreign troops in the area. |
Despite the loss of life, this falls far short of the large-scale attacks which have taken place in the Afghan capital. It appears designed to inflict as many casualties as possible, and grab headlines. | Despite the loss of life, this falls far short of the large-scale attacks which have taken place in the Afghan capital. It appears designed to inflict as many casualties as possible, and grab headlines. |
Afghan security forces, mentored by foreign troops, tackled the insurgents. It took them 12 hours to kill all the attackers, and there was foreign air-support, but Afghan forces were in charge. | Afghan security forces, mentored by foreign troops, tackled the insurgents. It took them 12 hours to kill all the attackers, and there was foreign air-support, but Afghan forces were in charge. |
The BBC's Quentin Sommerville, in Kabul, says this was an easy target for the Taliban, in a fairly remote area, with little security. | The BBC's Quentin Sommerville, in Kabul, says this was an easy target for the Taliban, in a fairly remote area, with little security. |
Foreigners rarely visit the lake, our correspondent says. | Foreigners rarely visit the lake, our correspondent says. |
In addition to the five militants, those killed included civilians, hotel guards and a police officer. | In addition to the five militants, those killed included civilians, hotel guards and a police officer. |
Dozens of people were taken hostage. | Dozens of people were taken hostage. |
AFP news agency photographer Massoud Hossaini, who went into the hotel after the siege ended, told the BBC: "All the walls have been torn apart with bullets; all the furniture and all the things that were there like carpets are torn and damaged. | AFP news agency photographer Massoud Hossaini, who went into the hotel after the siege ended, told the BBC: "All the walls have been torn apart with bullets; all the furniture and all the things that were there like carpets are torn and damaged. |
"I saw the bodies of some fighters and their bodies were in bits and pieces. There are a lot of bullets casings here, lots of them." | "I saw the bodies of some fighters and their bodies were in bits and pieces. There are a lot of bullets casings here, lots of them." |
The gunmen, armed with rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns, launched the attack on the hotel late on Thursday, officials say. | The gunmen, armed with rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns, launched the attack on the hotel late on Thursday, officials say. |
Gen John Allen, of the Nato-led International Security and Assistance Force, said the "unspeakably brutal attack" bore the "signature" of the Haqqani group. | |
"There is no doubt that innocent Afghan civilians were the intended targets," he said in a statement. | |
Gunfire | |
Maihan Saeedi, who left the area shortly before the attack began, told the BBC the hotel was full of civilians, including women and children. | Maihan Saeedi, who left the area shortly before the attack began, told the BBC the hotel was full of civilians, including women and children. |
The area was busy because it was Thursday night, the start of the Afghan weekend. | The area was busy because it was Thursday night, the start of the Afghan weekend. |
"When we left the hotel, we heard gunfire as we reached one of the [three security] checkpoints near the hotel," he said. | "When we left the hotel, we heard gunfire as we reached one of the [three security] checkpoints near the hotel," he said. |
"I'm completely shocked at how people managed to cross these checkpoints - it really raises questions over the levels of security, which is all commercialised." | "I'm completely shocked at how people managed to cross these checkpoints - it really raises questions over the levels of security, which is all commercialised." |
He said one of his friends inside the hotel told him by phone that people were trying to escape by jumping out through the windows and into the lake. | He said one of his friends inside the hotel told him by phone that people were trying to escape by jumping out through the windows and into the lake. |
"It just shows that the Taliban are there to kill civilians," Mr Saeedi said. | "It just shows that the Taliban are there to kill civilians," Mr Saeedi said. |
The Taliban attacked the hotel because foreigners there were drinking alcohol and participating in other activities banned by Islam, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told the Associated Press. | The Taliban attacked the hotel because foreigners there were drinking alcohol and participating in other activities banned by Islam, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told the Associated Press. |
The security operation was led by Afghan security forces, with support from the US-led coalition. | The security operation was led by Afghan security forces, with support from the US-led coalition. |
In recent months, the Afghan army and police have taken the lead in battling some of the most challenging insurgent attacks, winning praise and a measure of support from the Afghan population. | In recent months, the Afghan army and police have taken the lead in battling some of the most challenging insurgent attacks, winning praise and a measure of support from the Afghan population. |
Violence has recently increased across the country, with at least three US soldiers and about 20 Afghans killed in a series of attacks over the past seven days. | Violence has recently increased across the country, with at least three US soldiers and about 20 Afghans killed in a series of attacks over the past seven days. |
The attacks come as Nato gradually hands responsibility for security to Afghan forces, ahead of the departure of combat troops in 2014. | The attacks come as Nato gradually hands responsibility for security to Afghan forces, ahead of the departure of combat troops in 2014. |
Are you in the Lake Qargha area of Kabul? Have you been affected by the events described in this report? Please get in touch using the form below. | Are you in the Lake Qargha area of Kabul? Have you been affected by the events described in this report? Please get in touch using the form below. |