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| Foreigners targeted in Afghanistan blast as Labour MEP candidate Del Singh one of two Britons killed in Kabul attack which killed 21 | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The representative of the International Monetary Fund, two Britons and four UN members have been killed in the deadliest violence against foreign civilians in Afghanistan since the US-led invasion. A total of 21 people, including 13 foreigners, died when the Taliban attacked a popular restaurant in Kabul. | The representative of the International Monetary Fund, two Britons and four UN members have been killed in the deadliest violence against foreign civilians in Afghanistan since the US-led invasion. A total of 21 people, including 13 foreigners, died when the Taliban attacked a popular restaurant in Kabul. |
| Reports said a blast was detonated outside the Taverna du Libyan restaurant, which is popular with both locals and foreigners, after which Taliban gunmen stormed inside and opened fire. “Del” Dharmender Singh, a British Labour candidate for the European parliament was among those who lost their lives. | Reports said a blast was detonated outside the Taverna du Libyan restaurant, which is popular with both locals and foreigners, after which Taliban gunmen stormed inside and opened fire. “Del” Dharmender Singh, a British Labour candidate for the European parliament was among those who lost their lives. |
| “We can confirm the death of two British nationals in Afghanistan on 17 January," said a spokesman for Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office. “We are providing consular assistance to the families at this difficult time.” | “We can confirm the death of two British nationals in Afghanistan on 17 January," said a spokesman for Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office. “We are providing consular assistance to the families at this difficult time.” |
| Kabul’s police chief Gen Mohammad Zahir Zahir said that the majority of those killed were civilians who had come to the Lebanese restaurant to enjoy its celebrated food and atmosphere. He said the three attackers, including a suicide bomber and two gunmen, were also killed during Friday night’s assault. | Kabul’s police chief Gen Mohammad Zahir Zahir said that the majority of those killed were civilians who had come to the Lebanese restaurant to enjoy its celebrated food and atmosphere. He said the three attackers, including a suicide bomber and two gunmen, were also killed during Friday night’s assault. |
| The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it had been carried out in revenge for a US airstrike earlier this week that had also drawn condemnation from President Hamid Karzai as eight civilians were killed. | The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it had been carried out in revenge for a US airstrike earlier this week that had also drawn condemnation from President Hamid Karzai as eight civilians were killed. |
| “The target of the attack was a restaurant frequented by high ranking foreigners where the invaders used to dine with booze and liquor in the plenty,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in statement send to the media. | “The target of the attack was a restaurant frequented by high ranking foreigners where the invaders used to dine with booze and liquor in the plenty,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in statement send to the media. |
| Reports said shots could be heard ringing across the capital’s diplomatic district forminutes after the first blast. Several kitchen staff survived by fleeing to the roof. The restaurant’s owner, Kamal Hamade, was killed as he tried to defend his establishment with an automatic weapon. He was found at the bottom of the stairs. | Reports said shots could be heard ringing across the capital’s diplomatic district forminutes after the first blast. Several kitchen staff survived by fleeing to the roof. The restaurant’s owner, Kamal Hamade, was killed as he tried to defend his establishment with an automatic weapon. He was found at the bottom of the stairs. |
| The damaged sign of a Lebanese restaurant that was attacked in Kabul. It was popular with foreigners and wealthy residents | The damaged sign of a Lebanese restaurant that was attacked in Kabul. It was popular with foreigners and wealthy residents |
| “When I was in the kitchen, I heard an explosion outside,” Suleiman, a cook at the restaurant, told the Associated Press. “Then all the guys escaped up and I went to the roof and stayed with my back to the chimney for two or three hours.” | “When I was in the kitchen, I heard an explosion outside,” Suleiman, a cook at the restaurant, told the Associated Press. “Then all the guys escaped up and I went to the roof and stayed with my back to the chimney for two or three hours.” |
| The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde, confirmed that country chief Wabel Abdallah, 60, a Lebanese national, was among those who died. He had been based in Afghanistan since 2008. Two Americans and two Canadians were also killed. “This is tragic news, and we at the fund are all devastated,” Ms Lagarde said in a statement. | The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde, confirmed that country chief Wabel Abdallah, 60, a Lebanese national, was among those who died. He had been based in Afghanistan since 2008. Two Americans and two Canadians were also killed. “This is tragic news, and we at the fund are all devastated,” Ms Lagarde said in a statement. |
| At the same time, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also condemned the attack that left four UN staff dead. “Such targeted attacks against civilians are completely unacceptable and are in flagrant breach of international humanitarian law,” he said. | At the same time, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also condemned the attack that left four UN staff dead. “Such targeted attacks against civilians are completely unacceptable and are in flagrant breach of international humanitarian law,” he said. |
| The attack on the restaurant in Kabul’s Wazir Akbar Khan district comes as most foreign forces are preparing to withdraw most of their combat troops and as the country readies itself for an election in April when it will select a replacement for Mr Karzai. | The attack on the restaurant in Kabul’s Wazir Akbar Khan district comes as most foreign forces are preparing to withdraw most of their combat troops and as the country readies itself for an election in April when it will select a replacement for Mr Karzai. |
| The Afghan leader is still in discussions on whether or not to permit US forces to remain in the country. If no deal is reached, Afghan forces will be almost entirely responsible for security. | The Afghan leader is still in discussions on whether or not to permit US forces to remain in the country. If no deal is reached, Afghan forces will be almost entirely responsible for security. |
| While the south and south east of Afghanistan have seen most of the clashes between the security forces and the Taliban in the decade since US and UK forces invaded Afghanistan in the aftermath of the attacks of 9/11, Kabul has also suffered regular attacks. | While the south and south east of Afghanistan have seen most of the clashes between the security forces and the Taliban in the decade since US and UK forces invaded Afghanistan in the aftermath of the attacks of 9/11, Kabul has also suffered regular attacks. |
| Taliban fighters mounted several attacks in the capital during the summer months of last year but the assault on Friday inflicted higher casualties. With attacks still happening on a daily basis, Afghanistan and the United States are struggling to agree on a security pact, raising the prospect that Washington may yet pull out all of its troops this year unless an agreement us reached. | Taliban fighters mounted several attacks in the capital during the summer months of last year but the assault on Friday inflicted higher casualties. With attacks still happening on a daily basis, Afghanistan and the United States are struggling to agree on a security pact, raising the prospect that Washington may yet pull out all of its troops this year unless an agreement us reached. |
| The restaurant which was targeted had been running for several years, and was a favourite location for foreigners, including diplomats, contractors, journalists and aid workers. | The restaurant which was targeted had been running for several years, and was a favourite location for foreigners, including diplomats, contractors, journalists and aid workers. |
| A couple of armed guards were reportedly normally on duty at the front entrance, which led to a courtyard in front of the main ground floor dining room. The suicide bomb attack took place at the front entrance, but accounts differed over where the gunmen had entered from. | A couple of armed guards were reportedly normally on duty at the front entrance, which led to a courtyard in front of the main ground floor dining room. The suicide bomb attack took place at the front entrance, but accounts differed over where the gunmen had entered from. |
| Foreign casualties were taken to a military base in Kabul. At a hospital morgue near the attack, Afghans screamed and cried as they mourned the attack victims. | Foreign casualties were taken to a military base in Kabul. At a hospital morgue near the attack, Afghans screamed and cried as they mourned the attack victims. |