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14 Killed, Including Foreigners, in Kabul Cafe Blasts 14 Killed, Including Foreigners, in Kabul Cafe Blasts
(35 minutes later)
KABUL, Afghanistan — Three Taliban suicide bombers struck a restaurant popular with Westerners in downtown Kabul on Friday, setting off a blast outside that shook the city’s diplomatic quarter and killed at least 14 people, including foreigners, the police said.KABUL, Afghanistan — Three Taliban suicide bombers struck a restaurant popular with Westerners in downtown Kabul on Friday, setting off a blast outside that shook the city’s diplomatic quarter and killed at least 14 people, including foreigners, the police said.
Police officers arriving on the scene scrambled to determine if other attackers with guns were holed up inside the cafe, La Taverna, as reported on Afghan television news stations. The police could not immediately confirm the reports. Police officers arriving on the scene scrambled to determine if other attackers with guns were holed up inside the cafe, Taverna du Liban, as reported on Afghan television news stations. The police could not immediately confirm the reports.
“I can’t exactly say if there is an attacker inside the compound,” said Sediq Seddiqqi, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry. “Police are trying to help those people wounded during the explosion.”“I can’t exactly say if there is an attacker inside the compound,” said Sediq Seddiqqi, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry. “Police are trying to help those people wounded during the explosion.”
Gen. Zaher Zaher, the police chief, put the death toll at 14.Gen. Zaher Zaher, the police chief, put the death toll at 14.
The police swarmed through the neighborhood, Wazir Akbar Khan, after the blast, blocking off streets and setting up roadblocks. Officials said the bomber had detonated explosives outside La Taverna, a Lebanese restaurant whose clientele is made up largely of expatriates and well-heeled Afghans. The police swarmed through the neighborhood, Wazir Akbar Khan, after the blast, blocking off streets and setting up roadblocks. Officials said the bomber had detonated explosives outside Taverna du Liban, a Lebanese restaurant whose clientele is made up largely of expatriates and well-heeled Afghans.
Within an hour of the attack, the Taliban emailed reporters saying it had targeted “a foreign restaurant where foreign invaders were having dinner.”Within an hour of the attack, the Taliban emailed reporters saying it had targeted “a foreign restaurant where foreign invaders were having dinner.”
The Taliban, who routinely inflate the impact of their attacks, claimed to have inflicted heavy casualties and said they had killed a high-ranking German official. That claim could not be immediately confirmed.The Taliban, who routinely inflate the impact of their attacks, claimed to have inflicted heavy casualties and said they had killed a high-ranking German official. That claim could not be immediately confirmed.
The bombing was the second in less than two weeks that targeted foreigners in Kabul. On Jan. 4, the Taliban claimed responsibility for an explosion at an entrance to a predominantly American military base in the heart of the city. The American-led coalition said there had been no casualties.The bombing was the second in less than two weeks that targeted foreigners in Kabul. On Jan. 4, the Taliban claimed responsibility for an explosion at an entrance to a predominantly American military base in the heart of the city. The American-led coalition said there had been no casualties.
The restaurant explosion on Friday shook windows across much of central Kabul, and sporadic bursts of gunfire could be heard for minutes afterward.The restaurant explosion on Friday shook windows across much of central Kabul, and sporadic bursts of gunfire could be heard for minutes afterward.
Western embassies and the United Nations warned their staff members to stay away from neighborhood, or stay inside if they were nearby. The American Embassy, a number of European embassies and the headquarters of the NATO-led coalition are all within a mile of where the blast occurred, though most are on streets blocked by multiple barricades and blast walls.Western embassies and the United Nations warned their staff members to stay away from neighborhood, or stay inside if they were nearby. The American Embassy, a number of European embassies and the headquarters of the NATO-led coalition are all within a mile of where the blast occurred, though most are on streets blocked by multiple barricades and blast walls.
La Taverna, in contrast, is relatively easy to reach on foot or in a vehicle. Guests are ordinarily patted down by security guards before entering, but the guards would not have searched a car approaching the restaurant. The restaurant, in contrast, is relatively easy to reach on foot or in a vehicle. Guests are ordinarily patted down by security guards before entering, but the guards would not have searched a car approaching the restaurant.
The Norwegian Embassy is on the same block. There was no immediate word whether the embassy had sustained any damage.The Norwegian Embassy is on the same block. There was no immediate word whether the embassy had sustained any damage.