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Taleban attack Kabul luxury hotel Taleban attack Kabul luxury hotel
(about 4 hours later)
At least six people have died in an attack by Taleban fighters on a luxury hotel in the Afghan capital, Kabul.At least six people have died in an attack by Taleban fighters on a luxury hotel in the Afghan capital, Kabul.
A big blast, which the Taleban say was caused by a bomber detonating his explosive jacket, shook the Serena hotel and was followed by shooting.A big blast, which the Taleban say was caused by a bomber detonating his explosive jacket, shook the Serena hotel and was followed by shooting.
The interior ministry said six people, mainly guards, had died. It was not clear whether the toll included a Norwegian journalist confirmed dead. The dead include a Norwegian journalist and a US citizen as well as a number of security guards.
Guests, including the Norwegian foreign minister, took refuge in a cellar. Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gah Store was among guests who took refuge in a cellar.
The Norwegian reporter, Carsten Thomassen, 39, worked for the Oslo newspaper, Dagbladet.The Norwegian reporter, Carsten Thomassen, 39, worked for the Oslo newspaper, Dagbladet.
US state department officials in Washington confirmed an American had been killed, adding that they were withholding the victim's identity until family had been informed.
'Escaped''Escaped'
The attack on the heavily guarded hotel happened early in the evening.The attack on the heavily guarded hotel happened early in the evening.
Taleban spokesman Zadihullah Mujahid told the BBC that the four militants had been armed with automatic rifles, grenades and explosives jackets. It was a big bomb and the building was shaking a bit Anne Lene Dale SandstenNorwegian foreign ministry class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7188196.stm">Eyewitness: Hotel carnage
One of the four attackers managed to let off his explosives inside the hotel, while the others escaped, he added. 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 SandstenNorwegian foreign ministry class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7188196.stm">Eyewitness: Hotel carnage Taleban spokesman Zadihullah Mujahid told the BBC that four militants had been armed with automatic rifles, grenades and explosives jackets.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gah Store was in the hotel, together with other Norwegian officials, when the attackers struck. One of the four attackers managed to let off his explosives inside the hotel while the others escaped, he added.
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 Norwegian officials had been in a meeting one level down from the reception when they 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," she said, adding that one member of the party was injured.
Ms Sandsten confirmed that one member of the Norwegian foreign ministry was injured. A policeman guarding the Serena after the attack
"Later on we were evacuated to a secure place in the cellar of the hotel." Suzanne Griffin, a US aid worker who had been in the gym, told the Associated Press news agency the gunfire had been "close enough that plaster came off the ceiling".
Other guests were also taken to the cellar for safety. "We had to step over a woman's dead body - she was one of the gym people," she added.
The attacked happened early in the eveningSuzanne 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". A spokesman for the Nato peacekeeping force in Afghanistan said hotel guards had 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," she added.
A spokesman for the Nato peacekeeping force in Afghanistan 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.An eyewitness, Ghulam Haidar, told Reuters news agency that a guard had been killed.
Deteriorating securityDeteriorating security
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. Nato officials say suicide attacks are a sign of the Taleban's weakness after a series of defeats on the conventional battlefield, BBC defence and security correspondent Rob Watson reports.
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.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 that month, 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.
US-led forces toppled the Taleban government in late 2001.US-led forces toppled the Taleban government in late 2001.
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