Park Palace Hotel Attack

On a Wednesday night, May 13, 2015, a small group of Taliban fighters attacked a gathering of civilians at a Kabul guesthouse - the Park Palace Hotel located in central Kabul. The Taliban claimed credit for the attack that killed fourteen people - five Afghans and nine foreigners. One or more insurgents entered the hotel prior to a private concert to be performed by Afghan classical musician Ustad Eltaf Hussein Sarahang. A number of foreign development workers were killed in the attack.

Specifics of the Attack. The Taliban began the attack at approximately 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday and it ended about five hours later. Security forces rescued over 50 people fromt he hotel. There was confusion on the number of attackers with some reports saying only on attacker was present and others stating there were three attackers. There were over 50 people in the garden of the hotel awaiting the beginning of the concert by the Afghan musician. The gunman reportedly went room to room seeking out foreigners to kill. The Afghan security forces responded and cleared the hotel room by room.

Park Palace Hotel. This is a mid-range hotel catering to foreigners - researchers, businessmen, aid workers, journalists. Some patrons lived there full-time while others stay for short visits. The hotel had its start in October 2001 just after the fall of the Taliban. The hotel is described as a simple "Afghan Hospitality Home".

Among the deaths:

Afghan Citizens.  Five Afghans were killed in the attack including two members of ActionAid - a humanitarian organization that operates in Afghanistan.

Paula Kantor. A U.S. citizen, researcher and development worker with a long history of working in Afghanistan and other parts of the world. She had a total of five years working in Afghanistan. From 2005-2010 she was a researcher and then director of the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU) and at the time of her death was based in Pakistan working for the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT).

Allessandro Abati. An Italian citizen and the founder of a consultancy firm was killed as well as his future wife, Aigerim Abdulayeva, from Kazakhstan.

Indian Citizens. Four of the killed foreigners were citizens of India according to Indian Foreign Ministry officials.

Pakistani Citizens. Two citizens of Pakistan died in the attack.

British Citizen. A British-Afghan dual national who was working for the British Council died in the attack according to the UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond.

Info on Park Palace Hotel

Park Palace Hotel - website.
www.parkpalace.af

Park Palace Hotel - Facebook.
www.facebook.com/pages/Park-Palace/390870387620785

Park Palace Hotel - The Lonely Planet
www.lonelyplanet.com/afghanistan/kabul/hotels/park-palace

Park Palace Guest House - Trip Advisor
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ . . . Park_Palace_Guest_House-Kabul . . . .html

News Reports about the Park Palace Hotel Attack

May 15, 2015. "Survivor Recalls Deadly Attack at Kabul Guesthouse". Radio Free Europe. Victim says the shooter ate dinner in the restaurant . . . then took out a pistol and started shooting the other diners.

May 15, 2015. "Afghan Victims of Terror Attack Forgotten by Almost Everyone - Including Taliban Perpetrators". Vice News.

May 14, 2015. "Afghan Police Probe Deadly Taliban Attack on Upscale Kabul Guesthouse". Radio Free Europe.

May 14, 2015. "Death toll in Kabul hotel attack rises to 14; Taliban claim responsibility". CNN.

May 14, 2015. "Briton among 14 killed in Taliban attack on Kabul hotel". The Guardian. The foreign secretary condemns Afghan hotel shooting and says Briton killed in attack worked for the British Council.

May 14, 2015. "Kabul Park Palace Hotel attack kills 14". BBC News.

May 14, 2015. "The Park Palace Attack: More losses for Afghanistan". By Kate Clark, Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN).