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Four foreigners among nine gunned down in Taliban attack on Kabul hotel Four foreigners among nine gunned down in Taliban attack on Kabul hotel
(35 minutes later)
Four men with pistols stuffed in their socks attacked a luxury hotel in Kabul on Thursday, opening fire in a restaurant and killing nine people, including four foreigners, officials said.Four men with pistols stuffed in their socks attacked a luxury hotel in Kabul on Thursday, opening fire in a restaurant and killing nine people, including four foreigners, officials said.
The attack came just hours after militants killed 11 people in an audacious assault on a police station in eastern Afghanistan.The attack came just hours after militants killed 11 people in an audacious assault on a police station in eastern Afghanistan.
Afghan authorities initially said only two security guards had been wounded in the brazen assault on the Serena hotel in Kabul. Afghan authorities initially said only two security guards had been wounded in the brazen assault on the Serena hotel in Kabul, which is home to UN staff and diplomats.
Deputy interior minister General Mohammad Ayub Salangi later told Associated Press that the Afghan fatalities included two men, two women and one child while the foreigners included two women and two men. But deputy interior minister General Mohammad Ayub Salangi later told Associated Press that the Afghan fatalities included two men, two women and one child while the foreigners included two women and two men.
He said they were killed Thursday night in a restaurant at the Serena hotel considered one of the safest places to stay in Kabul. Salangi did not provide the nationalities of the foreigners who were killed.All the victims were gunned down in the hotel restaurant, he said. Salangi did not provide the nationalities of the foreigners who were believed to be celebrating the Persian new year with other guests. The attackers were all killed by security guards.
The assailants were killed in both standoffs, but made their point: Afghan forces face a huge challenge in securing upcoming elections in what will be a major test of their abilities as foreign troops wind down their combat mission at the end of this year. Zabihullah Mujihid, a Taliban spokesman, who claimed responsibility for the attack, said the fighters evaded security by using a back entrance. He said they were armed with light and heavy weapons and suicide vests, although only gunfire was heard during the attack.
“Tonight at 9.15 some mujahideen entered from an unofficial door,” he told the Guardian by phone. “Foreigners and officials from Kabul administration, important people were there tonight.”
As fears for security rise in Afghanistan ahead of a presidential election set for next month, its rooms were fully booked by election monitors, United Nations staff and diplomats whose embassies felt exposed.
It was also a favourite meeting place for Afghan leaders. Visitors to the pricey buffet restaurant and high-end gym, complete with a heated outdoor swimming pool that operates through the winter, would often bump into ministers, MPs and other powerful officials.
The assailants were killed in both attacks on Thursday, but made their point: Afghan forces face a huge challenge in securing upcoming elections in what will be a major test of their abilities as foreign troops wind down their combat mission at the end of this year.
The attacks show the Taliban are following through on their threat to use violence to the disrupt April 5 vote, which will be the first democratic transfer of power since the 2001 US-led invasion that ousted the Islamic militant movement. President Hamid Karzai is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term.The attacks show the Taliban are following through on their threat to use violence to the disrupt April 5 vote, which will be the first democratic transfer of power since the 2001 US-led invasion that ousted the Islamic militant movement. President Hamid Karzai is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the assault on the Serena hotel and the earlier attack in Jalalabad, an economic hub near the border with Pakistan.
“Our people, if they decide to attack any place, they can do it,” he said.
The violence began before dawn Thursday when a suicide bomber blew up his explosives-laden car outside the police station in Jalalabad, located near the palatial residence of Nangarhar provincial governor Attaullah Ludin.The violence began before dawn Thursday when a suicide bomber blew up his explosives-laden car outside the police station in Jalalabad, located near the palatial residence of Nangarhar provincial governor Attaullah Ludin.
Six gunmen rushed into the station as two more bombs exploded nearby one hidden in a motorised rickshaw and another in a vegetable cart.Six gunmen rushed into the station as two more bombs exploded nearby one hidden in a motorised rickshaw and another in a vegetable cart.
That prompted a fierce battle that lasted more than four hours, with Afghan police and soldiers chasing gunmen down the street amid gunfire and smoke billowing into the blue sky. Security forces killed seven attackers, Salangi said Thursday.That prompted a fierce battle that lasted more than four hours, with Afghan police and soldiers chasing gunmen down the street amid gunfire and smoke billowing into the blue sky. Security forces killed seven attackers, Salangi said Thursday.
Police said the attack killed 10 officers, including a city district police chief, and a university student caught in the crossfire and wounded 15 policemen.Police said the attack killed 10 officers, including a city district police chief, and a university student caught in the crossfire and wounded 15 policemen.
The Taliban spokesman Mujahid said the attackers wore suicide vests and killed nearly 30 police officers. The Islamic militant group frequently exaggerates casualty figures.The Taliban spokesman Mujahid said the attackers wore suicide vests and killed nearly 30 police officers. The Islamic militant group frequently exaggerates casualty figures.
The initial suicide bombing badly damaged the nearby state-run Afghan radio and television building, shattering its windows.The initial suicide bombing badly damaged the nearby state-run Afghan radio and television building, shattering its windows.
The Taliban have carried out numerous attacks in Jalalabad, Kabul and elsewhere in the east. But the choice of a police station as a target reflected an effort to show they can still penetrate heavily secured areas despite numerous U.S. and Afghan offensives against them in recent years.The Taliban have carried out numerous attacks in Jalalabad, Kabul and elsewhere in the east. But the choice of a police station as a target reflected an effort to show they can still penetrate heavily secured areas despite numerous U.S. and Afghan offensives against them in recent years.
Hours later, four young men entered the Serena hotel at about 6pm, telling guards they were going to dinner, officials said. To enter the hotel, guests must pass through an exterior gate and undergo a metal detector search and pat down.
Inside, they drew the pistols hidden in their socks and opened fire, interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said. Bursts of gunfire could be heard from outside the hotel as Afghan troops cordoned off the area.
The attackers appeared to be about 18 years old and all were killed, Sediqqi said, adding that gunfire wounded two hotel security guards.
Armoured vehicles carrying foreigners were seen leaving the hotel Friday morning, but otherwise the area appeared calm.
In a separate statement, Mujahid said the gunmen targeted foreigners and dignitaries gathered at the hotel for a celebration marking the Persian new year, Nowruz. He said Thursday’s attacks show the vulnerability of government forces against determined militants.
Afghanistan’s upcoming elections include provincial votes, but the most closely watched is the presidential race. Karzai’s successor will guide the country for the next five years as most US and allied forces leave the country by the end of 2014.Afghanistan’s upcoming elections include provincial votes, but the most closely watched is the presidential race. Karzai’s successor will guide the country for the next five years as most US and allied forces leave the country by the end of 2014.
As part of the withdrawal process, Afghan authorities on Thursday released dozens of prisoners who had been held by foreign troops, including some 40 who had been detained by British forces in southern Helmand province, officials said.As part of the withdrawal process, Afghan authorities on Thursday released dozens of prisoners who had been held by foreign troops, including some 40 who had been detained by British forces in southern Helmand province, officials said.