Four suspected Taliban militants wearing suicide vests and armed with grenades and rifles attacked a heavily-guarded luxury hotel in the Afghan capital, Kabul Monday, killing at least six people.
An Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman said one American national and a Norwegian journalist are among the dead along with several hotel security guards. Six other people were wounded in the gun and bomb attack. The spokesman said one attacker blew himself up, while the others threw grenades and fired guns. According to several sources, another attacker was shot dead by hotel guards.
The hardline Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack, which came as Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere was preparing for a meeting at the five-star Serena Hotel. He was unharmed.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon suggested that Stoere was the target of the attack, which he said demonstrates the need for taking necessary measures against terrorism.