Foreigners Targeted as Afghan Taliban Attack Kabul Hotel

Six gunmen in suicide vests, members of the Afghan Taliban, attacked the Kabul International Hotel overnight Saturday and into Sunday morning, leading to a protracted siege with police and security forces.

The International Hotel caters to foreign guests, and it appears the gunmen were trying to kill foreigners first and foremost. In the end, at least 14 foreign visitors were reported slain, and potentially more.

The death toll is still a matter of some dispute, with officials having most recently reported 18 dead, along with all six attackers. Witnesses suggested the toll was far higher, and Afghan media outlets were reporting 43 killed overall.

The Taliban attackers were described as being in suicide vests, and roaming the hallways targeted foreigners and Afghan officials primarily, while shooting at everyone else as well. Over 150 guests were able to survive the attack, with many having shimmied down the building’s exterior from upper floors using bedsheets.