Four Indians among 15 dead as Taliban bombers storm Kabul (Fourth Lead)

KABUL/NEW DELHI - Four Indians were among the 15 people killed when heavily-armed Taliban guerrillas wearing suicide vests attacked a hotel and a guesthouse run by Indians in the Afghan capital Friday.

Siamak Herawi, a presidential spokesperson, confirmed that four Indian nationals were killed in the massive bombings of the guesthouse in front of the City Centre shopping mall.

A string of explosions occurred at the City Centre shopping complex and the heavily fortified Safi Landmark hotel, which is on the top floor of a shopping centre and is popular with Westerners, said Abdul Ghafar Sayedzadar, a senior police official.

The force of explosions was so severe that the guesthouse building collapsed. Pools of blood and smithereens of glass were seen on the ground after the powerful blasts.

According to Sayedzadar, all the attackers were dead and the area was fully under the control of Afghan security forces. He added that 16 or 17 people could have been killed in the attack.

Giving the Taliban version, spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid said by phone from an undisclosed location that five Taliban bombers attacked two compounds used by foreigners.

“Our two bombers have been killed and three others are still resisting,” DPA quoted Mujahid as saying.

“Around 100 foreigners are surrounded by our forces in one of the compounds.”

In New Delhi, a ministry of external affairs spokesperson said: “We fear that among the casualties and those who have been injured, there are Indian nationals also.”

“I would like you to know that we are on a real time basis coordinating with the Indian mission and Afghan authorities.”

The Indian government is sending a special plane to bring back the bodies of the four Indians.

Detailing the sequence of events, Xinhua reported that the first explosion was a suicide car bombing at the guesthouse.

Later, two remaining terror suspects hid inside the City Center building and launched a fierce gunbattle with the police.

Police surrounded the shopping complex after the series of explosions and an exchange of heavy gunfire took place.

Chief doctor for the Afghan army, General Ahmad Zia Yaftali, said 12 bodies were taken to army hospitals and three were taken to another hospital.

“Eight Indians and one Pakistani national were among the wounded,” he said.

Farid Rahid, a spokesperson for the ministry of public health, said more than 30 people were injured in the attack.

An interior ministry official confirmed that several blasts had taken place. “The area is under control of the police.”

On Jan 18, Taliban fighters attacked government facilities in the capital in a standoff that lasted several hours. At least 12 people, among them seven Taliban, were killed in that attack.