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Suicide bombers attack Kabul restaurant frequented by foreigners At least 13 dead in attack on Kabul restaurant frequented by foreigners
(35 minutes later)
Three Taliban suicide bombers have attacked a Lebanese restaurant in Kabul popular with foreigners and wealthy Afghans, killing at least thirteen people in the heart of the capital's heavily fortified diplomatic quarter. Three Taliban suicide bombers have attacked a Lebanese restaurant in Kabul popular with foreigners and wealthy Afghans, killing at least thirteen people – an unusually deadly strike in the heart of the capital's heavily fortified diplomatic quarter.
A blast shook Wazir Akbar Khan neighbourhood shortly after 7pm, and was followed by several minutes of steady gunfire. The attack on a relatively unprotected restaurant was a clear statement of insurgent intent in a year critical for Afghanistan's future.
"It was a suicide attack on the Lebanese restaurant on street 14," the head of Kabul's criminal investigation department, Sayed Gulagha Hashami told the Guardian. At least one of the attackers made it inside the restaurant, he added. A presidential election in April will select the country's first new ruler in over a decade and foreign combat troops finish their mission, leaving the Afghan police and army to battle the Taliban alone.
Mohammad Zahir, the Kabul police chief, said at least thirteen people had died, with several others injured. There were Afghans and foreigners among the dead, he said, but declined to give further information. Friday's attack began with a bomb blast that shook Wazir Akbar Khan neighbourhood shortly after 7pm, as one attacker apparently detonated his explosives at the restaurant's fortified gate. It was followed by more than two hours of sporadic gunfire, as Afghan commandos besieged two other attackers apparently holed up inside.
Friday is the Afghan weekend, and the bombing was timed for the beginning of dinner, so several groups were likely sitting down to a meal. Mohammad Zahir, the Kabul police chief, said at least thirteen people had died, with several others injured. Afghans and foreigners were among the dead, he said, but declined to give further information.
The target was Taverna, a low-key but well-loved venue. It had armed guards and an air-lock entry system of steel gates, but those precautions would have been little match for a heavily armed suicide squad. "Damn! Never experienced so close an attack. Shootings and screams of horror in the street. Broken windows in our house!" one Afghan who lives near the restaurant posted on Facebook.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, saying they had targeted "foreign invaders" and that there were Germans among the dead.
Although there are regular attacks on targets in the Afghan capital, it is rare for would-be attackers to make it through rings of security around the city, elude an extensive intelligence network, and strike with such deadly force at a civilian target around the heavily fortified "green zone" that houses Nato and US embassy headquarters.
A single suicide attacker killed an Afghan family, including a human rights chief, with a bomb at a nearby supermarket three years ago, but security has been tightened since then at most places frequented by the Afghan elite or foreigners.
Friday's target, the Taverna restaurant, was a low-key but well-loved venue usually busy on a Friday, the Afghan weekend. It had guards with AK-47s and an air-lock entry system of steel gates, but those precautions would have been little match for a heavily armed suicide squad.
The area is packed with the homes of the Afghan elite, guesthouses for foreigners and offices of international organisations. Many streets are blocked by gates with police guards, but a well-prepared group could thread their way through back streets and avoid them.
An anxious man waiting outside said his father was missing and a friend had been taken to hospital with serious injuries.An anxious man waiting outside said his father was missing and a friend had been taken to hospital with serious injuries.
"My father called home this afternoon and said 'you guys have your dinner without me, because I am going to a restaurant with my friends'. We heard on the news about the explosion, and came to the site, and I saw my father's friend being carried out by the police," said Ajmal, who said his father, Mohammad Ali, worked for a telecoms firm. "My dad called home this afternoon and said 'you guys have your dinner without me, because I am going to a restaurant with my friends'. We heard on the news about the explosion, and came to the site, and I saw my father's friend being carried out by the police," said Ajmal, who said his father, Mohammad Ali, worked for a telecoms firm.
"His friend was seriously wounded in his leg. My father has disappeared and we are very worried.""His friend was seriously wounded in his leg. My father has disappeared and we are very worried."
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, saying they had targeted "foreign invaders" and that there were Germans among the dead.
The site of the attack is near many offices and guest houses used by foreigners and close to the unofficial "green zone" where Nato and the US mission have their headquarters. Many top Afghan officials also live nearby.
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