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Taliban attack on luxury hotel in Kabul kills 9 civilians Taliban attack on luxury hotel in Kabul kills 9 civilians
(about 4 hours later)
KABUL — Afghanistan on Friday acknowledged that an overnight attack by Taliban insurgents on a high-profile luxury hotel near the presidential palace in Kabul has claimed the lives of nine civilians, including four expatriates. KABUL —
The authorities had initially said that four teenage gunmen had been killed in the attack, and it took at least seven hours for them to acknowledge that the toll also included the nine civilians. The late-evening raid on the Serena Hotel, largely used by visiting foreign dignitaries and diplomats, highlighted the militants’ ability to penetrate and conduct strikes in areas such as this one, regarded as the most secure oasis in Kabul. Afghanistan on Friday acknowledged that an overnight attack by Taliban insurgents on a high-profile luxury hotel near the presidential palace in Kabul has claimed the lives of nine civilians, including four expatriates.
The attack on the Serena has sent shockwaves among many Afghans and expatriates. It follows an assault earlier this year that killed 21 guests, 13 of them foreigners, in a Lebanese restaurant in Kabul’s diplomatic enclave. Authorities initially said that four teenage gunmen were killed in the attack, and it took at least seven hours for officials to acknowledge that the toll also included the nine civilians. The late-evening raid on the Serena Hotel, largely used by visiting foreign dignitaries and diplomats, highlighted the militants’ ability to penetrate and conduct strikes in an area regarded as the most secure oasis in Kabul.
In the Serena attack, Afghan officials said they were stunned as to how the four assailants managed to get their weapons, hidden in their shoes, past a gantlet that includes three separate lines of hotel security, including body searches and X-ray machines. Afghan authorities said they were investigating to determine whether hotel guards had any hand in the attack The attack on the Serena shocked many Afghans and foreigners. It followed an assault in January that killed 21 guests, 13 of them foreigners, in a Lebanese restaurant in Kabul’s diplomatic enclave.
In the Serena attack, Afghan officials said they were stunned by how the four assailants managed to get their weapons, hidden in their shoes, past a gantlet of three separate lines of hotel security, including body searches and metal detectors for people and X-ray machines for luggage. Afghan authorities said they were investigating to determine whether hotel guards had any hand in the attack.
A Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, said in an e-mail that his group was behind the attack. The Taliban had information that nationals of “occupying countries,” as well as Afghan government officials and some “corrupt” lawmakers, were at the hotel to celebrate the Afghan new year, he said.A Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, said in an e-mail that his group was behind the attack. The Taliban had information that nationals of “occupying countries,” as well as Afghan government officials and some “corrupt” lawmakers, were at the hotel to celebrate the Afghan new year, he said.
In a statement released by the presidential palace, President Hamid Karzai said that “this admissible and inhumane act is the work of the enemies of the Afghan people who do not want security and lasting stability in our country.’’In a statement released by the presidential palace, President Hamid Karzai said that “this admissible and inhumane act is the work of the enemies of the Afghan people who do not want security and lasting stability in our country.’’
An Interior Ministry spokesman, Sediq Sediqqi, said the attack on the hotel, following so soon after the attack on a restaurant and the killing last week of a foreign journalist, represented a “new trend.” He said the strikes were part of an effort to sabotage the April 5 presidential elections, which the Taliban have vowed to derail. An Interior Ministry spokesman, Sediq Sediqqi, said the attack on the hotel, following the restaurant attack and the killing last week of a foreign journalist, represented a “new trend.” He said the strikes were part of an effort to sabotage the country’s April 5 presidential election, which the Taliban has vowed to derail.
Sediqqi said the attackers had entered the Serena disguised as guests, then later opened fire on diners at the hotel restaurant. Sediqqi said the attackers entered the Serena disguised as guests, then later opened fire on diners at the hotel restaurant.
The slain civilians included four foreigners: women from Canada and New Zealand and men from Pakistan and India. The Afghan victims included Sardar Ahmad, a journalist for Agence France-Presse, along with his wife and two children, Ahmad’s brother Turaj said by telephone.The slain civilians included four foreigners: women from Canada and New Zealand and men from Pakistan and India. The Afghan victims included Sardar Ahmad, a journalist for Agence France-Presse, along with his wife and two children, Ahmad’s brother Turaj said by telephone.
Another six people, including a lawmaker, were wounded, a police officer said. The U.S. Embassy said there were no reports of any casualties among its staff. Six other people, including a lawmaker, were wounded, a police officer said. The U.S. Embassy said there were no reports of any casualties among its staff.
The Serena was also the target of a 2008 attack that killed hotel guests, but security has since been beefed up. The hotel is protected by private guards, not the Afghan government. The Serena was also the target of a 2008 attack that killed hotel guests, but security was subsequently beefed up. The hotel is protected by private guards, not the Afghan government.
Afghans have been gathering to mark the beginning of the traditional New Year. On Friday, a number of Afghans, including a deputy governor and a top aide, were wounded in an explosion in the southern city of Kandahar, where the devices had apparently been hidden in a box of fruit. Afghans have been gathering to mark the beginning of the traditional new year. On Friday, a number of Afghans, including a deputy governor and a top aide, were wounded in a bomb blast in the southern city of Kandahar. The bomb had apparently been hidden in a box of fruit.
The Thursday night attack on Serena came hours after a brazen raid by a group of Taliban militants killed 10 officers in a police station in the east of the country. The Thursday night attack on the Serena Hotel came hours after a brazen raid by a group of Taliban militants killed 10 officers in a police station in eastern Afghanistan.
With Karzai preparing to step down, the upcoming presidential vote is seen as a key point in the nation’s history, because it could result in the first peaceful transition of power in Afghanistan. With Karzai preparing to step down at the end of his second and final term, the upcoming presidential vote is seen as a key point in Afghan history because it could result in the country’s first peaceful transition of power.
Afghan authorities on Thursday released from prison 77 suspected Taliban fighters captured by Western forces. The freeing of the prisoners came a month after the release of 65 inmates from a Bagram detention center, which drew stern criticism from United States and NATO, which considered the detainees dangerous. In a separate development, Afghan authorities on Thursday released from prison 77 suspected Taliban fighters captured by Western forces. The freeing of the prisoners came a month after the release of 65 inmates from a detention center next to the U.S. military’s Bagram air base. That release drew stern criticism from the United States and NATO, which considered the detainees dangerous.
NATO and the U.S. military had no comment on the latest release.NATO and the U.S. military had no comment on the latest release.