This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/25/world/asia/insurgents-attack-near-un-mission-in-kabul.html
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Insurgents Attack Near U.N. Mission in Kabul | Insurgents Attack Near U.N. Mission in Kabul |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| KABUL, Afghanistan — At least eight people were wounded and one killed when insurgents attacked Friday in the midst of one of the capital’s diplomatic quarters, setting off a bomb and sending United Nations and international agency workers into blast shelters. | KABUL, Afghanistan — At least eight people were wounded and one killed when insurgents attacked Friday in the midst of one of the capital’s diplomatic quarters, setting off a bomb and sending United Nations and international agency workers into blast shelters. |
| The target appeared to be at or near the main compound of the United Nations here, according to Afghan police, but the attackers ended up taking refuge in a private house nearby, fighting a pitched battle with the police using guns and rocket-propelled grenade launchers. | The target appeared to be at or near the main compound of the United Nations here, according to Afghan police, but the attackers ended up taking refuge in a private house nearby, fighting a pitched battle with the police using guns and rocket-propelled grenade launchers. |
| The eight wounded included some foreigners, as well as United Nations guards and civilians, and one person was confirmed dead, according to Gen. Mohammad Zahir, the head of the Kabul police’s criminal investigation division. The fighting continued nearly four hours after it began. | The eight wounded included some foreigners, as well as United Nations guards and civilians, and one person was confirmed dead, according to Gen. Mohammad Zahir, the head of the Kabul police’s criminal investigation division. The fighting continued nearly four hours after it began. |
| The Kabul police chief, Gen. Mohammad Ayoub Salangi, said there were five attackers, and one blew himself up at the gate of the United Nations’ Compound A, the main facility for the mission’s offices and housing, in the central Shar-e-Naw neighborhood. | The Kabul police chief, Gen. Mohammad Ayoub Salangi, said there were five attackers, and one blew himself up at the gate of the United Nations’ Compound A, the main facility for the mission’s offices and housing, in the central Shar-e-Naw neighborhood. |
| The four other attackers, he said, were disguised as women in burqas and had taken refuge in a house nearby. Police had killed two of them, but two were still fighting back, he said. “We will soon end this fight,” General Salangi said. | |
| The target was unclear, but there were conflicting reports that it was the International Organization of Migration; a hospital used by the national intelligence service; and a hotel, the Park Palace. The buildings were all adjoining or close to the United Nations compound, as well as guesthouses used by foreign staff in the area. | The target was unclear, but there were conflicting reports that it was the International Organization of Migration; a hospital used by the national intelligence service; and a hotel, the Park Palace. The buildings were all adjoining or close to the United Nations compound, as well as guesthouses used by foreign staff in the area. |
| A Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, claimed the intended target was a guesthouse used by the Central Intelligence Agency. | A Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, claimed the intended target was a guesthouse used by the Central Intelligence Agency. |
| Afghan authorities refused to say which compound was being used by the insurgents. | Afghan authorities refused to say which compound was being used by the insurgents. |
| The first explosion was so loud that it was heard miles away, and witnesses reported hearing many more explosions from inside the compound where the insurgents were holed up, apparently because they were firing rocket-propelled grenades and were still fighting police hours later. | |
| A witness, Adil Murad, 28, said he was at the Zaid Kabul restaurant across from the scene when he saw four armed men running toward the United Nations compound. He said the restaurant, owned by a friend, had security cameras and they monitored the gunmen’s progress as they vaulted over a wall of one of the compounds. The first explosion was heard shortly later. | A witness, Adil Murad, 28, said he was at the Zaid Kabul restaurant across from the scene when he saw four armed men running toward the United Nations compound. He said the restaurant, owned by a friend, had security cameras and they monitored the gunmen’s progress as they vaulted over a wall of one of the compounds. The first explosion was heard shortly later. |
| Authorities ordered lockdowns of embassies and international facilities throughout the city, and at a United Nations compound across the street from the apparent site of the attack, workers were ordered to take refuge in blast shelters. | Authorities ordered lockdowns of embassies and international facilities throughout the city, and at a United Nations compound across the street from the apparent site of the attack, workers were ordered to take refuge in blast shelters. |
| Mr. Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, who was reached by telephone, claimed that a squad of suicide attackers was targeting a guesthouse used by the C.I.A. “to train Afghan spies.” He said the initial blast was a suicide car bomb, which destroyed the facility’s outer wall, allowing other attackers armed with light and heavy weapons to storm inside. “We believe there are massive casualties inflicted on the C.I.A.,” he said. | Mr. Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, who was reached by telephone, claimed that a squad of suicide attackers was targeting a guesthouse used by the C.I.A. “to train Afghan spies.” He said the initial blast was a suicide car bomb, which destroyed the facility’s outer wall, allowing other attackers armed with light and heavy weapons to storm inside. “We believe there are massive casualties inflicted on the C.I.A.,” he said. |
| In 2009, insurgents invaded a United Nations guesthouse, killing 11 people; the episode prompted the agency to tighten the security of its living quarters for international staff. | In 2009, insurgents invaded a United Nations guesthouse, killing 11 people; the episode prompted the agency to tighten the security of its living quarters for international staff. |
Reporting was contributed by Sangar Rahimi, Azam Ahmed and Matthew Rosenberg from Kabul, Afghanistan. | Reporting was contributed by Sangar Rahimi, Azam Ahmed and Matthew Rosenberg from Kabul, Afghanistan. |