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| Version 18 | Version 19 |
|---|---|
| Taleban attack Kabul luxury hotel | Taleban attack Kabul luxury hotel |
| (3 days 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 dead include a Norwegian journalist and a US citizen as well as a number of security guards. | The dead include a Norwegian journalist and a US citizen as well as a number of security guards. |
| Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gah Store was among guests who 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. | 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. |
| It was a big bomb and the building was shaking a bit Anne Lene Dale SandstenNorwegian foreign ministry Eyewitness: Hotel carnage | It was a big bomb and the building was shaking a bit Anne Lene Dale SandstenNorwegian foreign ministry Eyewitness: Hotel carnage |
| Taleban spokesman Zadihullah Mujahid told the BBC that four militants had been armed with automatic rifles, grenades and explosives jackets. | Taleban spokesman Zadihullah Mujahid told the BBC that four militants had been armed with automatic rifles, grenades and explosives jackets. |
| One of the four attackers managed to let off his explosives inside the hotel while the others escaped, he added. | 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 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". | 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," she said, adding that one member of the party was injured. | "We had security people with us and we were told to lie down," she said, adding that one member of the party was injured. |
| A policeman guarding the Serena after the attack | A policeman guarding the Serena after the attack |
| 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". | 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". |
| "We had to step over a woman's dead body - she was one of the gym people," she added. | "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 had killed one of the attackers before he got inside the building. | A spokesman for the Nato peacekeeping force in Afghanistan said hotel guards had 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 security | Deteriorating security |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. |