By Greg Donaldson
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

KABUL, Afghanistan— Approximately nine Taliban suicide bombers stormed the prestigious hilltop Inter-Continental Hotel in the capital city late Tuesday night, killing up to twenty-one people in the raid. Armed with rocket-propelled grenades and other weapons, the attackers entered the heavily guarded hotel where foreigners and authorities generally stay. An Afghan security official said that three of the suicide bombers detonated their explosives, one in front of the main gate, one on the second floor and one behind the hotel, reports the Khaama Press.

It is unclear whether the attack was in response to a local governor’s meeting or the upcoming transfer of police power. Regardless, the attack comes at a critical time as the United States plans to transfer security responsibilities to the national intelligence police in Kabul on the fourteenth. Afghan president Hamid Karzai has stated for months that his security forces are competent enough to handle Taliban attacks. President Obama has also announced the withdrawal of 33,000 American troops by the end of next year.

In response to the various Taliban attacks that preceded and followed the hotel bombing, President Karzai has spoken with Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari about doing more to prevent Taliban activities. Both sides point fingers at the other when discussing the Taliban’s actions in their countries, but Afghan and US officials have pushed Pakistan to do more on the Pakistani side of the border to prevent future attacks reports Dawn.

Kamel Khan, a businessman, was visiting the hotel when the raid began. Khan heard gunfire and saw a man carrying a machine gun, with an ammunition belt across his chest, and a backpack. Khan stated “He stared at all of the guests like he wanted to kill us, and he had enough bullets to do it, but for some reason he just turned and kept going.”

Another hotel visitor, Maulvi Mohammed Orsaji, the head of the Takhar Provincial Council, was having dinner with a judge in the hotel’s formal dining room when several gunmen entered the room and killed the judge and Orsaji’s guard. Orsaji related that he had previous military experience, but he had never seen such a wild attack in his life. Some of the bombers carried tape recorders playing Taliban war songs and shot at anyone they saw, reports MSNBC.

When Afghan security forces entered the building, some of the attackers blew themselves up. A NATO helicopter then killed the remaining insurgents in a rooftop battle reports MSNBC. In a statement claiming responsibility for the attack, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said he received a phone call from one of his fighters during the raid. The fighter stated that the attackers killed the guards at one of the entrances to the hotel, and the assault was going as planned reports MSNBC.

Lutfullah Mashal, spokesman for the national intelligence police, continued to proclaim that the local police have the ability to protect residents from terrorist attacks in a news conference following the hotel siege. However, police officials were unable to explain how the attackers were able to enter the heavily guarded hotel with such a large arsenal of weapons.

For more information, please see:

Dawn– Karzai raises concerns with Pakistan over attacks — 5 July 2011

Khaama Press — Group of Suicide Bombers Stormed Kabul Intercontinental Hotel – 30 June 2011

Miami Herald — US-led coalition: Pakistan group behind Kabul hotel attack – 30 June 2011

Khaleej Times — 21 dead as Taleban storm Kabul hotel – 29 June 2011

MSNBC – ‘Everybody was shooting’: 18 die in Kabul hotel attack – 29 June 2011

Washington Post — Kabul hotel siege leaves at least 11 civilians dead – 29 June 2011