Afghanistan: High risk of car bombings in Kabul Jan. 22

Event

Official sources have reported that a high alert has been issued for all roads in the capital Kabul on Monday, January 22, in response to an extant vehicle borne explosive device (VBIED) threat. On Saturday, officials identified a credible threat of attack by anti-government elements in the city, with reports of two planned VBIED attacks targeting central government and military targets; anti-government elements are reputedly waiting for an opportunity to deploy the VBIEDs. The chance of such devices being deployed to exploit established routines and perceived weaknesses in the security of “foreign” interests in the city cannot be ruled out.

Furthermore, a major attack took place on Saturday at Kabul’s Intercontinental Hotel.

A heightened security posture from Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) should be expected, especially at security checkpoints and static locations across the city.

Context

On January 20, gunmen stormed the Intercontinental Hotel at around 21:00 (local time), killing 18 people, including 14 foreigners. More than 153 people escaped or were rescued by ANSF. The Interior Ministry announced that the last attacker was killed on Sunday afternoon, some 12 hours after the siege on the hotel began. The Taliban, which also targeted the hotel in 2011, have claimed responsibility.

The US Department of State had previously issued a warning on January 18 regarding the possibility of an impending attack targeting a hotel in Kabul.

Advice

Individuals present in Kabul are advised to consider essential movements only, obey all instructions issued by the local authorities, and monitor the situation. Additional vigilance should be observed when transiting through the city.

Due to major security concerns more generally, individuals throughout Afghanistan are urged to keep a safe distance from large gatherings, military convoys, government buildings, and crowded urban areas. Many Western governments advise their citizens against travel to Afghanistan due to the high threat of kidnapping and terrorism, including frequent attacks against Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, local civilians and politicians, and individuals working in the humanitarian and reconstruction fields. Travel to the country should only be undertaken with proper security protocols in place.