Serena Hotel (کابل)

 هتل  اضافه کردن رده

At least seven people were killed by terrorists in the suicide bombing carried out at 6:15 p.m. on 14 January 2008. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid immediately claimed his organization was to blame for the attack. The object of the assault was apparently Jonas G. Stoere, Foreign Minister of Norway, who ran for cover in the basement of the building. Norwegian journalist Carsten Thomassen of the Dagbladet was among the dead, as was an American, David T. Hesla of Atlanta. The Taliban claimed the mission was taken by a suicide bomber and three associates armed with AK rifles, but survivors agree there were at least two explosions. The attackers were reportedly concentrating their assault on the hotel's gym and spa area, were foreigners like to relax and work out in the evening. A Philipina hotel employee, the spa supervisor, later died from her wounds. The mastermind behind the attack is belived to be Jalaluddin Haqqani or his son Sirajddin. Haqqani, patriarch of the Haqqani network in Paktika, was a mujahideem commander during the anti-Russian resistance. He formally joined the Taliban in 2001.
The first hotel on this site was built in 1945. It was reopened in 2006 as a 177 room luxury faciltiy with two four-star restaurants, a decidedly up-scale shopping area, a pastry shop, et cetera. The cliental includes journalists, diplomats, and other dignitaries.

Photo by Aulfat Rizai.