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| Gunmen Attack Luxury Hotel in Kabul Weeks Before Afghanistan Elections | Gunmen Attack Luxury Hotel in Kabul Weeks Before Afghanistan Elections |
| (6 months later) | |
| KABUL, Afghanistan — Four men with pistols opened fire inside the luxurious Serena Hotel complex in central Kabul on Thursday night, killing nine people before being gunned down and sowing panic in an exclusive enclave frequented by foreign officials, prominent Afghans and an array of development workers, officials and witnesses said. | |
| The Afghan Interior Ministry said the attackers entered the hotel saying they were going to eat in one of the complex’s restaurants. Officials said the attackers managed to smuggle pistols past security checkpoints and then hid in a bathroom, eventually springing out and opening fire on hotel guests and guards. | The Afghan Interior Ministry said the attackers entered the hotel saying they were going to eat in one of the complex’s restaurants. Officials said the attackers managed to smuggle pistols past security checkpoints and then hid in a bathroom, eventually springing out and opening fire on hotel guests and guards. |
| Although the ministry initially said that two people were wounded, early on Friday the authorities said that nine people had been killed. Four of the dead were foreigners and the other five Afghans. Among the Afghans were two children and two women, the authorities added. | Although the ministry initially said that two people were wounded, early on Friday the authorities said that nine people had been killed. Four of the dead were foreigners and the other five Afghans. Among the Afghans were two children and two women, the authorities added. |
| A spokesman for the Taliban, Zabiullah Mujahid, said the insurgents were responsible. But the Twitter feed for the National Directorate of Security, the Afghan intelligence service, reported that the battle had been sparked by a conflict between armed guests, and the police forces appeared to be staying noncommittal. | A spokesman for the Taliban, Zabiullah Mujahid, said the insurgents were responsible. But the Twitter feed for the National Directorate of Security, the Afghan intelligence service, reported that the battle had been sparked by a conflict between armed guests, and the police forces appeared to be staying noncommittal. |
| Witnesses inside the Serena said that a festive evening of Afghan New Year celebrations was interrupted around 9 p.m., when they began hearing gunshots around the complex’s packed restaurants. Frightened guests holed up in their rooms, or found shelter in safety bunkers around the complex. | Witnesses inside the Serena said that a festive evening of Afghan New Year celebrations was interrupted around 9 p.m., when they began hearing gunshots around the complex’s packed restaurants. Frightened guests holed up in their rooms, or found shelter in safety bunkers around the complex. |
| The police quickly put up a heavy cordon around the hotel, which is in central Kabul and within a mile of the presidential palace. | The police quickly put up a heavy cordon around the hotel, which is in central Kabul and within a mile of the presidential palace. |
| The Serena has long been a popular destination for wealthy or prominent visitors to Kabul. Hotel rooms can cost upward of $300 a night, with prices soaring during times of high demand. Ahead of the presidential elections on April 5, rooms at the Serena were fully booked through the coming weeks. | The Serena has long been a popular destination for wealthy or prominent visitors to Kabul. Hotel rooms can cost upward of $300 a night, with prices soaring during times of high demand. Ahead of the presidential elections on April 5, rooms at the Serena were fully booked through the coming weeks. |
| Even before, concerns about security in Kabul had prompted the United Nations to move some of its staff behind the hotel’s high walls, which are guarded around the clock by dozens of security guards armed with assault weapons. | Even before, concerns about security in Kabul had prompted the United Nations to move some of its staff behind the hotel’s high walls, which are guarded around the clock by dozens of security guards armed with assault weapons. |
| The hotel has also been subjected to repeated attacks by the Taliban, who more recently have threatened a heavy surge of assaults to disrupt the elections. With its expatriate clientele and general ambience of luxury, including a heated swimming pool and full-service spa, the hotel offers an obviously attractive target for militants, and recent security reports rated the Serena among the highest-risk locales in the city. | The hotel has also been subjected to repeated attacks by the Taliban, who more recently have threatened a heavy surge of assaults to disrupt the elections. With its expatriate clientele and general ambience of luxury, including a heated swimming pool and full-service spa, the hotel offers an obviously attractive target for militants, and recent security reports rated the Serena among the highest-risk locales in the city. |
| Early on Thursday, the Taliban claimed another major attack after a series of coordinated strikes in the city of Jalalabad left at least 10 police officers dead, including the district police chief. | Early on Thursday, the Taliban claimed another major attack after a series of coordinated strikes in the city of Jalalabad left at least 10 police officers dead, including the district police chief. |
| The assault, which also left 14 police officers wounded, began around 5 a.m. when a car loaded with explosives sped through the gate to the police compound. Six bombers stormed the facility after the initial blast, waging a three-hour gun battle within the compound, according to Fazal Ahmad Sherzad, the police chief of Nangarhar Province, of which Jalalabad, one of the country’s largest and most economically vibrant cities, is the capital. Attack helicopters from the American-led international coalition could be seen circling the area after the assault. | The assault, which also left 14 police officers wounded, began around 5 a.m. when a car loaded with explosives sped through the gate to the police compound. Six bombers stormed the facility after the initial blast, waging a three-hour gun battle within the compound, according to Fazal Ahmad Sherzad, the police chief of Nangarhar Province, of which Jalalabad, one of the country’s largest and most economically vibrant cities, is the capital. Attack helicopters from the American-led international coalition could be seen circling the area after the assault. |
| Government officials said that two of the attackers were killed before they could detonate their explosives, but that the others managed to do so within the police compound, which is near the provincial governor’s palace as well as other government offices and a United Nations facility. | Government officials said that two of the attackers were killed before they could detonate their explosives, but that the others managed to do so within the police compound, which is near the provincial governor’s palace as well as other government offices and a United Nations facility. |
| “Such attacks on our security forces will not weaken our morale,” said Attullah Lodin, the governor of Nangarhar. “I assure you that we continue to fight the enemies. We will do our utmost efforts to prevent such attacks from happening in the future.” | “Such attacks on our security forces will not weaken our morale,” said Attullah Lodin, the governor of Nangarhar. “I assure you that we continue to fight the enemies. We will do our utmost efforts to prevent such attacks from happening in the future.” |
| A facility operated by the state-run Radio Television Afghanistan was also attacked, but initial reports indicated that because of the early hour only one civilian was killed. | A facility operated by the state-run Radio Television Afghanistan was also attacked, but initial reports indicated that because of the early hour only one civilian was killed. |
| Another deadly assault this week, in Faryab Province, killed 18 civilians, underscoring the Taliban’s threats to disrupt the country. Officials there said the bombing had been meant to discourage public participation in the election. | Another deadly assault this week, in Faryab Province, killed 18 civilians, underscoring the Taliban’s threats to disrupt the country. Officials there said the bombing had been meant to discourage public participation in the election. |
| Also on Thursday, the Afghan government continued a string of prisoner releases that have strained relations with the NATO-led military coalition. Officials said they released 55 more detainees because there was not enough evidence to hold them. | Also on Thursday, the Afghan government continued a string of prisoner releases that have strained relations with the NATO-led military coalition. Officials said they released 55 more detainees because there was not enough evidence to hold them. |
| The coalition, though, had identified the men as being among a larger number of dangerous detainees with insurgent ties. In a statement circulated shortly after the government’s announcement, the coalition characterized the release as something that “could jeopardize the gains made over the last decade in stability and opportunity for the Afghan people.” | The coalition, though, had identified the men as being among a larger number of dangerous detainees with insurgent ties. In a statement circulated shortly after the government’s announcement, the coalition characterized the release as something that “could jeopardize the gains made over the last decade in stability and opportunity for the Afghan people.” |
| Last month, the government freed 65 detainees held in the former American prison at Bagram. Even repeated threats that such releases would endanger American aid to Afghanistan have had little effect on President Hamid Karzai’s insistence on full Afghan sovereignty over detainees, or on his promise to slowly dismantle the former Bagram prison, which he has referred to as a “Taliban-making factory.” | Last month, the government freed 65 detainees held in the former American prison at Bagram. Even repeated threats that such releases would endanger American aid to Afghanistan have had little effect on President Hamid Karzai’s insistence on full Afghan sovereignty over detainees, or on his promise to slowly dismantle the former Bagram prison, which he has referred to as a “Taliban-making factory.” |
| Of the 55 detainees set free on Thursday, 39 had been brought to Bagram by British forces in Helmand Province, one of the most intensely contested regions of the war. | Of the 55 detainees set free on Thursday, 39 had been brought to Bagram by British forces in Helmand Province, one of the most intensely contested regions of the war. |
| Though there was tension evident in the international coalition statement on the releases, the British response was notably less fraught. | Though there was tension evident in the international coalition statement on the releases, the British response was notably less fraught. |
| “Although we don’t agree with the decision to release them, ultimately these decisions are for the Afghans to make,” said Maj. Tim James, a media officer at the British Embassy in Kabul. | “Although we don’t agree with the decision to release them, ultimately these decisions are for the Afghans to make,” said Maj. Tim James, a media officer at the British Embassy in Kabul. |
| The differing responses may be at least in part because the British have said that none of those released men have, to their knowledge, been responsible for British deaths. The Americans, who want the prisoners to be tried in Afghan courts, said that a number of those released have coalition and Afghan blood on their hands. | The differing responses may be at least in part because the British have said that none of those released men have, to their knowledge, been responsible for British deaths. The Americans, who want the prisoners to be tried in Afghan courts, said that a number of those released have coalition and Afghan blood on their hands. |