2008 Kabul Serena Hotel attack

Infobox terrorist attack
title=2008 Kabul Serena Hotel attack


caption=The Serena Hotel in Kabul
location=Kabul, Afghanistan
target=Senior foreign military officers
date=January 14, 2008
time-begin=
time-end=
timezone=UTC+4:30
type=Suicide attack
fatalities=6 [ [http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080114/hotel_blast_080114/20080114?hub=CTVNewsAt11 CTV.ca CTV] ]
injuries=6
susperps=
perps=TalibanCampaignbox Afghanistan attacks

The 2008 Kabul Serena Hotel attack was an attack on the gym and spa of the Serena Hotel, in Kabul, Afghanistan on Monday, January 14, 2008 which the Taliban claimed responsibility for.

A Norwegian delegation under Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre resided at the hotel at the time of the attack. The attack claimed six lives, including Dagbladet journalist Carsten Thomassen. Six others were also injured.

Serena Hotel is a five star hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan, designed by the Montreal based Group Arcop Architects and since its opening in 2005 has been used by international media crews and politicians. The Hotel also houses the Australian embassy in Afghanistan. [ [http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23054433-953,00.html The Courier-Mail: Terrorists hit Australian embassy] , published January 15 2008]

Details

The Attack

At 6:30 pm local time, three men disguised in police uniforms created a distraction while a fourth man entered the hotel compound to detonate his suicide vest. Taliban spokesman Zadihullah Mujahid claimed that the militants had been armed with AK-47 automatic rifles, hand grenades and explosive jackets.. [http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=506451 VG: VG-fotograf kjempet for kollegaens liv] , published January 15 2008 no icon] After a car bomb had detonated outside the hotel, the terrorists began firing around inside the compound. [http://pub.tv2.no/nettavisen/verden/article1537704.ece Nettavisen: Støre var ikke målet] , published January 14 2008 no icon] According to a NATO spokesman, one of the compound guards managed to kill one of the terrorists before they entered the hotel. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7187592.stm BBC News: Taleban attack Kabul luxury hotel] , published January 14 2008]

Two of the terrorists threw hand grenades at the guards outside, then entered the hotel complex itself. As they entered the hotel, one of the terrorist detonated a suicide vest, while at least one terrorist, who was wearing a Afghan police uniform, begun firing around with a AK-47 [http://www.nettavisen.no/verden/article1537999.ece Nettavisen: Ble beordret ned på gulvet] , published January 14 2008 no icon] [http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/uriks/article2195598.ece Aftenposten: Bombeangrep mot Støres hotell] , published January 14 2008 no icon] .

The Norwegian photographer Stian Solum explained that he was one of those shot at by a man wearing a Afghan police uniform as he left the lift. [http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/uriks/article2195598.ece Aftenposten: Bombeangrep mot Støres hotell] , published January 14 2008 no icon] . According to Norwegian foreign ministry spokeswoman Anne Lene Dale Sandsten Norwegian officials were in a meeting one level down from the reception when they heard shooting and "a big blast". [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7187592.stm BBC NEWS - Taleban attack Kabul luxury hotel] ]

The terrorists were supposedly planning to target the hotel’s exercise and spa facilities, which is used by many foreigners. [http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2008/01/14/523835.html Dagbladet: Et sikkert hotell] , published January 14 2008 no icon]

After the attack, American and Afghan forces appeared at the scene in order to set up a perimeter around the hotel and search for the remaining assailants. The Norwegian ISAF force in Kabul evacuated injured and others from the hotel. The Norwegians used two armoured vehicles, a Sisu XA-186 and a patrol car, including a medic and a nurse during the evacuation. [http://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/artikkel.php?artid=506423 VG: Støre trolig hjem til Norge etter terrorangrepet] , published January 14 2008 no icon]

Fatalities

Six people are believed to be dead and six wounded. Two Norwegians were shot and severely injured in the attack. One of them was the Dagbladet journalist Carsten Thomassen, who was hit by three rounds and later died from his wounds; the other was a male employee from the Norwegian Ministry of Defence. [http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/uriks/article2195598.ece Aftenposten: Bombeangrep mot Støres hotell] , published January 14 2008 no icon] [http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2008/01/14/523814.html Dagbladet: To nordmenn skutt på hotell i Kabul] , published January 14 2008 no icon] They were transported by Norwegian soldiers to a Czech ISAF field hospital in Kabul, [http://www.nettavisen.no/verden/article1537999.ece Nettavisen: Ble beordret ned på gulvet] , published January 14 2008 no icon] where Thomassen died on the operation table due to his injuries. [http://www.nettavisen.no/innenriks/article1538155.ece Nettavisen: Dagbladet-journalist drept] , published January 14 2008 no icon]

Two hotel guards were killed in the attack as well as a Filipino female employee at the hotel and an American citizen, Thor Hesla. [http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/uriks/article2196791.ece Aftenposten: Ville vise utlendingene] , published January 15 2008 no icon] One of the attackers was killed by security forces and a second died in the explosion. A diplomat from the United Arab Emirates was shot in the abdomen and severely injured. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7188196.stm BBC News: Eyewitness: Carnage in Kabul hotel] , published January 14 2008]

The perpetrators

A Western medic who arrived at the hotel after the attack commented that one of the terrorists was found shot and killed in the lobby, one had detonated himself in the courtyard, one detonated himself on the roof and the fourth escaped from the scene. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7188196.stm BBC News: Eyewitness: Carnage in Kabul hotel] , published January 14 2008] One of the terrorists apparently locked himself on the hotel roof by mistake and then detonated his explosive vest. [http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/uriks/article2200048.ece Aftenposten: Kabul-terrorist låste seg trolig ute på taket] , published January 16 2008 no icon] . One of the terrorists, allegedly the one who fired his assault rifle inside the lobby, was captured by security guards shortly after the second detonation. [http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/uriks/article2196791.ece Aftenposten: En arrestert etter angrepet i Kabul] , published January 15 2008 no icon] .

Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre

resided at Serena Hotel along with a large delegation from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the time of the attack. [http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/uriks/article2195598.ece Aftenposten: Bombeangrep mot Støres hotell] , published published January 14 2008 no icon] . Everyone attending the meeting located one floor below the lobby were ordered down on the floor by the Norwegian security guards. They remained lying down while the guards were ready to use their weapons, in case the room should be attacked. [http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/uriks/article2196161.ece Aftenposten: Kastet seg i dekning da skuddene smalt] , published January 14 2008 no icon]

The delegation was then moved to safety in a bomb shelter in the basement of the hotel. [http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/uriks/article2195598.ece Aftenposten: Bombeangrep mot Støres hotell] , published January 14 2008] . Støre had just begun his meeting with the leader of the Afghan Human Rights Commission. [http://www.nettavisen.no/verden/article1537999.ece Nettavisen: Ble beordret ned på gulvet] , published January 14 2008 no icon] .

The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon later stated that the Norwegian delegation led by Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre had been the targets for the attack. [http://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/artikkel.php?artid=506436 VG: FN: Støre var målet] , published January 14 2008 no icon] , while Taliban released different statements. One source claimed the Norwegian foreign minister was not the target for the attack [http://pub.tv2.no/nettavisen/verden/article1537704.ece Nettavisen: Støre var ikke målet] , published January 14 2008 no icon] Taliban wished to attack Serena Hotel while Støre resided there. [http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/uriks/article2196791.ece Aftenposten: Ville vise utlendingene] , published January 15 2008 no icon] . [http://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/artikkel.php?artid=506494 VG: Taliban: Ville angripe mens Støre var på hotellet] , published January 15 2008 no icon]

Støre cancelled the rest of his visit to Afghanistan the day after the attack. [http://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/artikkel.php?artid=506423 VG: Støre trolig hjem til Norge etter terrorangrepet] , published January 14 2008 no icon] .

International reactions

Countries

*flag|Norway – The Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg condemned the attack on the Hotel, saying that: "This is an unacceptable attack against civilians and another strike against the process towards peace and stability in Afghanistan. Now we are focusing on giving the injured the needed medical treatment as fast as possible."
The Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre commented the death of Dagbladet journalist Carsten Thomassen, saying: "Carsten was unique among Norwegian journalists. He combined solid journalistic work with integrity and great knowledge. He has followed me on many journeys and he was until the end filled with his actions as a journalist. Those who as with Carsten in Kabul on January 14 is filled with grief and despair. My thoughts goes to his closest relatives and all of his friends and colleagues." [http://www.nettavisen.no/innenriks/article1538155.ece Nettavisen: Dagbladet-journalist drept] , published January 14 2008 no icon]

*flag|Denmark – The Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Møller said: "The Danish government condemns in the strongest terms the terrorist attack on the Norwegian Foreign Minister and the other innocent people. It is a cowardly attack which emphasizes that the threat from Taliban is real and unpredictable. But it is as well a signal about the fact that Taliban is now trying to frighten everyone who want to help Afghanistan away. Taliban's goal is to seize power and reinstate their politics of terror against the outside world. They must and shall not succeed. The Danish commitment stand firm. Let me as well express my deepest sympathies for the victims and their families in and outside Norway, who is our close ally." [http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2008/01/14/523830.html Dagbladet: Et forsøk på å skremme hjelpere bort] , published January 14 2008 no icon] [ [http://www.um.dk/da/servicemenu/Nyheder/ForsideNyheder/UdenrigsministerPerStigMoellerUdtalerEfterAngrebetPaaDenNorskeUdenrigsministerIKabul.htm Udenrigsministeriet: Udenrigsminister Per Stig Møller udtaler efter angrebet på den norske udenrigsminister i Kabul] , published January 14 2008 dk icon]

*flag|Iceland – The Icelandic Foreign Minister Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir said: "The attack on the Norwegian Foreign Minister is a particularly horrible event, and this is a sign that Afghanistan is a dangerous country." [ [http://eyjan.is/blog/2008/01/14/ingibjorg-solrun-skelfileg-ti%c3%b0indi-en-islendingarnir-i-kabul-innan-vakta%c3%b0s-sv%c3%a6%c3%b0is/ Ingibjörg Sólrún: Skelfileg tíðindi - Íslendingar í Kabúl innan vaktaðs svæðis] , published January 14 2008 is icon]

*flag|Sweden – Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt condemned the attack in Kabul on his blogg, saying: "I feel a great disgust for these attacks which in the end hits innocent people and complicates the international efforts to help the development for a better Afghanistan." [ [http://carlbildt.wordpress.com/2008/01/14/allvarligt-attentat-i-kabul/ Allvarligt attentat i Kabul] , published January 14 2008 sv icon]

International organizations

*International Press Institute - The International Press Institute strongly condemned the attack and the killing of Dagbladet journalist Carsten Thomassen. IPI Director David Dadge said: "This attack on innocent civilians is a brutal act of murder. Our deepest sympathies go out to the families and the colleagues of the victims. Thomassen was simply carrying out his job as a reporter, in this case reporting on an embassy meeting." [ [http://www.freemedia.at/cms/ipi/statements_detail.html?ctxid=CH0055&docid=CMS1200411654407 IPI (International Press Institute) :: IPI Condemns Murder of Norwegian Journalist in Kabul ] ]

*NATO – A NATO spokesman at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels said: "Our impression is that the attack was not directed against Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Taliban can claim whatever they want without standing behind what they say. They have no credibility". [http://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/artikkel.php?artid=506494 VG Nett: Taliban: Ville angripe mens Støre var på hotellet] , published January 15 2008 no icon]

*flagicon|Afghanistan|Taliban Taliban - The Taliban spokesman Salah Adin al-Ayoupi confirmed Monday that Taliban had carried out the attack on the Hotel. The Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed said that the wished to attack the Serena Hotel while the Norwegian Foreign Minister was residing there. "We decided that we should attack at the right time in order to show these ministers and foreigners that our hand and our might can reach anywhere."
However, the Taliban spokesman Salah Adin al-Ayoupi claimed that Taliban had no knowledge of the foreign minister residing at the hotel at the time of the attack. He claimed that everyone connected to NATO was the target for the attack, as Serena Hotel often housed international delegations. [http://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/artikkel.php?artid=506494 VG Nett: Taliban: Ville angripe mens Støre var på hotellet] , published January 15 2008 no icon]

*flag|United Nations – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon suggested that the deadly attack by Taliban militants on Hotel Serena was targeted on the Norwegian foreign minister and said it highlighted the need for action against extremist violence. "I am very much surprised by this terrorist attack against the foreign minister of Norway. I feel fortunate that he (Støre) was not injured, but that really confirms that we must take necessary measures to address terrorism". [http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/322616/1/.html Taliban attack shows need to address terror threat: UN chief] , published January 14 2008]

Controversy in Norway

The attack and Thomassen's death in particular triggered controversy in Norway when it became known that the Norwegian Foreign Ministry had ignored recommendations from the Norwegian Police Security Agency and the Norwegian military intelligence regarding the security arrangements for Støre's visit. [ [http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article2199433.ece Aftenposten.no] en icon Security measures questioned after attack in Kabul] One particularly controversial decision, which may have contributed to the Taliban's choice of target, was to publish Støre's itinerary, including the name of the hotel where he would be staying, in advance of the trip. [ [http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2008/01/15/523923.html dagbladet.no] no icon UD-rutiner under lupen] Furthermore, while it is standard operating procedure for the Norwegian ISAF forces to escort any Norwegian delegation in Afghanistan with a protection detail including a medevac APC, the Foreign Ministry had declined such an escort. [ [http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2008/01/16/523972.html dagbladet.no] no icon Det tok 1 time og 54 minutter for Carsten hamnet pa operationsbordet] Subsequent to the attack, sources within the Norwegian armed forces expressed dismay at the Norwegian Foreign Ministry's lack of proper contingency plans for medical evacuation.

ee also

*List of terrorist incidents, 2008
*2008 Danish embassy bombing - Terrorist attack on the Danish embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan.

References

External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7187592.stm bbc.co.uk]
* [http://www.serenahotels.com/afghanistan/kabul/home.asp Serena Hotell Kabul] (Hotel Web Site)
* [http://maps.google.no/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=103463858487444355190.00043e779354e0292d259 Google Maps: Satelite image of Kabul and Serena Hotel]
* [http://www.aftenposten.no/spesial/bildeserieviser/?id=2197159 Aftenposten: Photo Gallery: Terrorist Attack in Kabul]