This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7187592.stm

The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 13 Version 14
Taleban attack Kabul luxury hotel Taleban attack Kabul luxury hotel
(about 1 hour later)
Four heavily armed Taleban fighters have attacked the Serena hotel in the Afghan capital, Kabul, the main hotel there for international visitors.Four heavily armed Taleban fighters have attacked the Serena hotel in the Afghan capital, Kabul, the main hotel there for international visitors.
Guests, including the Norwegian foreign minister, were rushed to the cellar to escape the attackers.Guests, including the Norwegian foreign minister, were rushed to the cellar to escape the attackers.
There was at least one explosion, which the Taleban say was caused by one of their men detonating a "suicide jacket", as well as shooting.There was at least one explosion, which the Taleban say was caused by one of their men detonating a "suicide jacket", as well as shooting.
Casualty figures are not clear. Police have kept journalists from the scene.Casualty figures are not clear. Police have kept journalists from the scene.
'Escaped''Escaped'
Taleban spokesman Zadihullah Mujahid told the BBC that the four Taleban fighters were suicide attackers, armed with Kalashnikovs, grenades and explosives jackets. Taleban spokesman Zadihullah Mujahid told the BBC that one of the four suicide attackers managed to let off his explosives inside the hotel, while the others escaped. We didn't see anything but we heard it very close. It was a big bomb and the building was shaking a bit Anne Lene Dale Sandsten,Norwegian foreign ministry class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7188196.stm">Eyewitness: Hotel carnage
We didn't see anything but we heard it very close. It was a big bomb and the building was shaking a bit Anne Lene Dale Sandsten,Norwegian foreign ministry class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7188196.stm">Eyewitness: Hotel carnage The attack on the heavily-guarded hotel happened early in the evening.
He said that one of the men managed to let off his explosives inside the hotel and the others escaped.
The attack on the hotel, which is heavily guarded, happened early in the evening.
There are conflicting reports on how the attack unfolded and the number of people killed is unclear.There are conflicting reports on how the attack unfolded and the number of people killed is unclear.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gah Store was in the hotel, together with a delegation from the Norwegian embassy, when the attackers struck. Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gah Store was in the hotel, together with other Norwegian officials, when the attackers struck.
Norwegian foreign ministry spokeswoman Anne Lene Dale Sandsten told the BBC News website: "We were in a meeting one level down from the reception when we heard shooting and then a big blast go off one level up.Norwegian foreign ministry spokeswoman Anne Lene Dale Sandsten told the BBC News website: "We were in a meeting one level down from the reception when we heard shooting and then a big blast go off one level up.
"We had security people with us and we were told to lie down. "We had security people with us and we were told to lie down."
"We didn't see anything but we heard it very close. It was a big bomb and the building was shaking a bit.
Ms Sandsten confirmed that one member of the Norwegian foreign ministry and a Norwegian journalist were injured.Ms Sandsten confirmed that one member of the Norwegian foreign ministry and a Norwegian journalist were injured.
"Later on we were evacuated to a secure place in the cellar of the hotel. We have been here ever since. They have been evacuating people out and checking the hotel." "Later on we were evacuated to a secure place in the cellar of the hotel."
The attacked happened early in the evening Other guests were also taken to the cellar for safety.
Other guests were also taken to the hotel cellar for safety. The attacked happened early in the eveningA Norwegian photographer inside the hotel, Stian L Solum, said: "There were two or three bombs and there was complete chaos."
A Norwegian photographer inside the hotel, Stian L Solum said: "There were two or three bombs and there was complete chaos." Suzanne Griffin, a US aid worker who was in the gym, told the Associated Press news agency that the gunfire had been "close enough that plaster came off the ceiling".
American aid worker, Suzanne Griffin, was in the gym. "Thank God I didn't get into the shower because then we heard gunfire, a lot of it," she said, the Associated Press news agency reports. "We had to step over a woman's dead body. She was one of the gym people," she added.
"It was very close - close enough that plaster came off the ceiling... We all just sat on the floor and got as far as we could from any glass and huddled on the floor. We turned our phones on silent. A spokesman for the Nato peacekeeping force in Afghanistan said hotel guards killed one of the attackers before he got inside the building.
"We had to step over a woman's dead body. She was one of the gym people," Ms Griffin said. An eyewitness, Ghulam Haidar, told Reuters news agency that a guard had been killed.
A spokesman for the Nato peacekeeping force said hotel guards killed one of the attackers before he got inside the building.
An eyewitness, Ghulam Haidar, told Reuters news agency that a guard had been killed. "I saw one dead body of the guard near the entrance of the hotel. I don't know anything else because the attackers entered inside the hotel after they shot the guards."
Deteriorating securityDeteriorating security
Many international workers are based at the Serena. The BBC's defence and security correspondent, Rob Watson, says Nato officials say suicide attacks are a sign of the Taleban's weakness, not its strength.
They argue the Taleban has been forced into such tactics because of Nato's overwhelming military superiority and a series of defeats on the conventional battlefield, he says.
But Nato and Afghan officials concede that suicide attacks provide spectacular publicity for the insurgents, our correspondent adds.
In December the Taleban carried out two suicide bombings in Kabul, killing 13 people in one attack.In December the Taleban carried out two suicide bombings in Kabul, killing 13 people in one attack.
Later in December, a rocket attack near the Kabul governor's residence killed five people. Later that month, a rocket attack near the Kabul governor's residence killed five people.
Security in much of Afghanistan has deteriorated in the past two years as the Taleban have renewed their attacks on Afghan security forces and Western troops.Security in much of Afghanistan has deteriorated in the past two years as the Taleban have renewed their attacks on Afghan security forces and Western troops.
They now have significant influence across the countryside in most of Afghanistan. US-led forces toppled the Taleban government in late 2001.
US-led forces toppled the Taleban in late 2001. However many Afghans complain that since then President Hamid Karzai's government has failed to bring about economic improvements and that corruption is as big a problem as ever.
Are you in the area? Have you been affected by this incident? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below:Are you in the area? Have you been affected by this incident? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below:
You can send pictures and video to:You can send pictures and video to:
yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. Click here to see terms and conditions yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. Click here to see terms and conditions
At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.
Name:
 Name: