Pieces of the same story

This is the most comprehensive account of what happened yesterday at the Serena Hotel. I don't know the source, but could be Brit Embassy.

"On Monday 14 Jan early evening at the Serena Hotel a Reception was being held by the Norwegian Foreign Minister, Jonas Gah Stoere, which included a number of Afghan Ministers. At about 1812 a complex attack on the Serena took place involving 3 or 4 attackers armed with AK47 rifles, grenades and suicide vests. They killed six or seven: about 4 afghan hotel staff (including guards and a female receptionist), a US National (in the Gym), a French woman and a Norwegian journalist (Thomassen). A further number were wounded , including a UAE envoy and more Norwegians. I have two credible accounts, one from the American Regional Security Officer and the other from the Serena security manager.

1. The RSO says 3, possibly 4, Afghans made a frontal assault on the hotel using grenades, AK 47 rifles and a body borne suicide bomber. Some, or all were dressed in police uniforms. They got into the concourse in front of the hotel where a guard and a French woman were killed. They entered the hotel Lobby where a female receptionist and other guards were killed. One of the attackers went down a corridor to the gym where an Afghan and an American were killed. By the elevator a Norwegian was killed. The suicide bomber detonated outside the hotel. One of the attackers was arrested. The others are not yet accounted for.

The attackers were uncoordinated and he described the hotel as in bedlam. Order came when the US Embassy personnel and military cordoned the hotel and entered. The Australians were contained in the secure room in the basement. The Americans evacuated a Korean First Secretary from his room and facilitated the evacuation of some of the Norwegians and their Foreign Minister to the Airport and a further 28 guests were evacuated to the American Embassy.

2. The Hotel Security Manager says that at 1812 a white Toyota Corolla pulled up at the security check point at the front of the Serena and two Afghan males dressed in civilian clothes said they were due to see the Afghan Minister of Finance at the Hotel. They entered the Hotel by the main entrance and shot a security guard and a female receptionist. They threw a hand grenade into the public lavatory and proceeded further into the Hotel shooting indiscriminately. At some point they discarded their weapons and mingled with the other guests. During this time a further vehicle drew up outside the main gates to the Hotel and two persons in Police Uniforms got out and started to engage with small arms fire the security details outside the Hotel. They were unable to penetrate further and detonated a suicide vest, or vests. There was only superficial damage to the Hotel."