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| Taliban attacks Western guest house, Afghan officials say | Taliban attacks Western guest house, Afghan officials say |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| KABUL — The Taliban attacked the offices of a U.S.-based charity on Friday, a complex assault that comes just over a week before the country’s presidential election. | KABUL — The Taliban attacked the offices of a U.S.-based charity on Friday, a complex assault that comes just over a week before the country’s presidential election. |
| The suicide bomb and gun attack was directed at the Roots of Peace facility in the Kart-e-Char neighborhood of southwestern Kabul, the organization’s founder and chief executive, Heidi Kuhn, confirmed in an e-mail. | The suicide bomb and gun attack was directed at the Roots of Peace facility in the Kart-e-Char neighborhood of southwestern Kabul, the organization’s founder and chief executive, Heidi Kuhn, confirmed in an e-mail. |
| There was no immediate word of casualties, but Kuhn said that as of 11 a.m., the attack “was still underway.” She said she was monitoring the situation and would issue a statement soon. | There was no immediate word of casualties, but Kuhn said that as of 11 a.m., the attack “was still underway.” She said she was monitoring the situation and would issue a statement soon. |
| A Reuters report from Kabul quoted local officials and the Roots of Peace director in the country saying that several people, including as many as three U.S. citizens, were trapped inside the building. As many as 18 other people of various nationalities were reported to have been evacuated. | A Reuters report from Kabul quoted local officials and the Roots of Peace director in the country saying that several people, including as many as three U.S. citizens, were trapped inside the building. As many as 18 other people of various nationalities were reported to have been evacuated. |
| There has been a surge in violence in the Afghan capital in recent weeks, including several attacks on Western and high-profile Afghan targets. A number of foreign election observers and other Westerners have left Kabul, fearing continued violence. | There has been a surge in violence in the Afghan capital in recent weeks, including several attacks on Western and high-profile Afghan targets. A number of foreign election observers and other Westerners have left Kabul, fearing continued violence. |
| It remains unclear whether there have been injuries or casualties to staff or others associated with the organization. | It remains unclear whether there have been injuries or casualties to staff or others associated with the organization. |
| At least one assailant remained in the house, and gunfire could be heard from the street. | At least one assailant remained in the house, and gunfire could be heard from the street. |
| The Taliban in a statement referred to their target as a guest house used by foreigners and a “church used to convert Afghans.” | The Taliban in a statement referred to their target as a guest house used by foreigners and a “church used to convert Afghans.” |
| Roots of Peace is a California-based nonprofit that turns former minefields into vineyards and orchards. According to its Web site, the group has been working in Afghanistan since 2003 and has received millions of dollars in funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development. | |
| Afghan Deputy Interior Minister Ayoub Salangi said four gunmen were involved in the attack. It start with the detonation of a suicide bomb, after which other assailants entered the building. | |
| “One of them blew up a car full of explosives, and three went inside,” he said. “We believe foreigners are inside the guest house.” |