22 Jan 2018 | 11:08 AM UTC
Afghanistan: Death toll from Jan. 20-21 Kabul hotel attack rises /update 3
Death toll from Intercontinental Hotel attack in Kabul rises Jan. 22; extant threat of car bomb in Kabul on Jan. 22
Event
The death toll from the January 20-21 Taliban attack at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul continues to rise. At least 22 people have been reported killed as of Monday, January 22, with some sources reporting as many as 40 deaths. The Afghan Ministry of the Interior announced that the siege at the hotel ended on Sunday morning, with all six assailants killed. No less than 126 people were rescued from the hotel, including 41 foreigners.
Furthermore, there is a high threat of vehicle-borne explosive device (VBIED) attacks in the capital as of Monday; a heightened security posture from the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) should be expected, especially at security checkpoints across the city.
Context
Unidentified gunmen stormed the hotel on January 20 at around 21:00 (local time); the attackers had taken hostages within the hotel and set fire to the third, fourth, and fifth floors. The US Department of State had issued a warning on January 18 regarding the possibility of an attack targeting a hotel in Kabul, singling out the Baron Hotel as the potential target.
The Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul had previously been attacked by the Taliban in 2011.
Advice
Individuals present in Kabul are advised to avoid the Intercontinental Hotel area if possible, obey all instructions issued by the local authorities, and continue to monitor the situation.
On a more general note, individuals throughout Afghanistan are urged to keep a safe distance from large gatherings, military convoys, government buildings, and crowded urban areas due to major security concerns. 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.
