2014 Kabul Serena Hotel attack

The 2014 Kabul Serena Hotel attack was a mass shooting that took place in the restaurant of the Kabul Serena Hotel, in Kabul, Afghanistan on 20 March 2014 carried out by Taliban militants. The shooting, which took place in a hotel that is popular with foreigners and wealthy Afghans, killed nine civilians, including four foreigners. The attack was a shock to many as it took place in a heavily fortified area of Kabul.[2]

Not to be confused with 2008 Kabul Serena Hotel attack.

2014 Kabul Serena Hotel attack
Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
LocationKabul, Afghanistan
Date20 March 2014 (2014-03-20)
20:30 – 23:30 (UTC+4:30)
TargetForeign election observers and journalists
Attack type
Suicide attack
Deaths9 (+4 attackers)[1]
Injured2
Perpetrators Taliban

The attack

Four teenage Taliban militants smuggled weapons in their shoes and socks and then hid in the hotel for several hours before commencing the attack. Armed with small handguns, the gunmen stormed the hotel's restaurant at around 8:30pm–9:00pm, firing on guests as they dined and celebrated Nowruz, the Persian new year. Guests in the hotel barricaded themselves in their rooms and others fled. Nine people were killed, including Ahmad Sardar (a prominent Afghan journalist), Sardar's wife and two children, a Canadian, a New Zealander, two Bangladeshis, and a Paraguayan diplomat. Afghan security forces responded to the attack, sealing off the hotel and launching a hunt for the gunmen. One of the militants was killed by armed hotel staff while the other three hid in the hotel. The search for the gunmen lasted several hours and ended when Afghan commandos killed them.[3][4][5]

Victims
Deaths by nationality
Country Number
 Afghanistan 4
 New Zealand 1
 Canada 1
 Bangladesh 2
 Paraguay 1
Total 9

Notable victims:

Perpetrators

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.[8] The Afghan National Directorate of Security blamed Pakistani intelligence agencies for carrying out the attack, further adding that it was "unusual" that Pakistani nationals were not present in the hotel at the time of the attack.[9] However, it was reported that one Pakistani national was killed during the shooting[10][11] although the Pakistani foreign office issued a statement saying the national was alive but in a coma as well as condemning the attack.[12]

See also

References
  1. "Afghan Official says 9 People, including 4 Foreigners, Killed in Attack on Kabul hotel (Reuters)". Bigstory.ap.org. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  2. "Nine killed in Kabul hotel attack". BBC News. 21 March 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  3. Rosenberg, Matthew; Ahmed, Azam (11 March 2014). "Illusion of Safety at Afghan Haven Is Shattered". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  4. Graham-Harrison, Emma (21 March 2014). "Taliban gunmen kill nine civilians in attack at Kabul's Serena hotel". the Guardian. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  5. "Nine dead in Kabul hotel attack". Al Jazeera America. 25 August 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  6. "Diplomático paraguayo fallece en un ataque de talibanes en hotel de Kabul" (in Spanish). ABC Color. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  7. "AFP reporter, family among nine killed in Kabul hotel attack". IANS. news.biharprabha.com. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  8. Mahr, Krista (21 March 2014). "Nine Dead in a Hotel Bloodbath: Welcome to Campaign Season in Kabul". Time. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  9. "Pakistan's ISI plotted attack on Serena hotel in Kabul: NDS". The Khaama Press News Agency. 25 March 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  10. Graham-Harrison, Emma (21 March 2014). "Taliban gunmen kill nine civilians in attack at Kabul's Serena hotel". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  11. "Nine killed in Kabul hotel attack". 21 March 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  12. "Serena Hotel: Pakistani injured, not killed, in Kabul attack". The Express Tribune. 22 March 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2019.

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