Kabul Restaurant Bombing


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Afghan War News > Events > Kabul Restaurant Bombing January 2014


On Friday, January 17, 2014 at 7:25 p.m. Taliban terrorists attacked the Taverna du Liban restaurant in Kabul, Afghanistan killing 21 non-combatants. Eight Afghans and 13 foreigners were killed. The Lebanese restaurant was located in an area of Kabul considered 'secure' and was frequented by foreigners working in Kabul. This is the single most costly incident in the Afghan War for foreign non-combatants.

The Restaurant. The Taverna du Liban restaurant was situated in an older section of Kabul within walking distance of several embassies (Norway, Denmark, Belgium, UK, and Sweden). The location is in the Wazir Akbar Khan district of the city where embassies, foreign NGOs, and other organizations are located. (Image below from Google). The restaurant catered to foreigners and well-to-do Afghans.

Location of Taverna du Liban Kabul restaurant


The Attackers.
News reports indicate that there were three attackers - one suicide bomber and two gunmen. All were killed in the attack. The suicide bomber detonated his explosives outside the gate of the restaurant and then the two gunmen went inside the restaurant and started shooting those that survived the bombing with AK-47s. All the diners in the restaurant were killed; the only survivors were the restaurant staff. The owner of the restaurant also died along with three Afghan security guards. The gunmen were shot bey security forces when they arrived at the scene. 2.

Taliban Responsibility. A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahed, said the restaurant attack was in retaliation for a recent ISAF attack in Parwan province that killed several civilians (this is very unlikely). The restaurant was targeted because it served alcohol with its meals and was frequented by foreigners. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack within one hour of the event.

Among the Dead:

Kamal Hamade. The Lebanese owner of the Taverna restaurant. He employed Lebanese and Afghan cooks. 1.

Khanjar Wabel Abdallah. The 60-year-old Lebanese was the in-country representative for the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He was friends with the restaurant owner. He served in the position since 2008. 5.

United Nations Workers. Three UN workers were killed: Basra Hassan of the United States, Nasrin Jamal of Pakistan, and Vadim Nazarov of Russia.

Nazarov is reported to be working on re-establishing peace talks with the Taliban. He was the chief political affairs officer at the United Nations Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). He served as a diplomat for the Soviet Union in the 1980s and returned to Afghanistan in 2005 to work with the United Nations.

Basra Hassan, of Hamtramck, Michigan, was working as a Nutrition Specialist for UNICEF. The 59 year old was born in Somalia but moved to the United States to study. She had a master's degree from Eastern Michigan University. She joined UNICEF in 2005 and had been working in Afghanistan since May 2010. 3.

Dr. Nasreen Khan, a Health Specilist, of Pakistan died in the attack and was also a UNICEF staffer.

Wabel Abdallah of Lebanon also worked for the United Nations and was killed.

Alexis "Lexie" Kamerman was a student development specialist with the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul. She was 27 years old and came from Chicago. She had been working there since June 2013. She attended the Latin School of Chicago and Knox College in Galesburg. She completed a Masters in higher education at the University of Arizona in 2012.

Dr. Alexandros Petersen, who also worked for American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, died in the attack. He recently joined the political science faculty. Educated in London, Alex worked for the Henry Jackson Society, the Atlantic Council, and the Woodrow Wilson Center.

Dhamender Singh Phangurha (Del Singh) had engaged for many years as a worker in conflict areas to include Sierra Leone, Libya, Nepal, Kosovo, and Palestine. He was a development specialist for the European Union and worked as an advisor for Adam Smith International. 8. He was in Afghanistan on a consulting contract and had worked in Afghanistan on and off for the past 8 years. He was to be a candidate for the coming elections for the European Parliament. 6.

Gnanathurai (Gnana) Nagarajah, a Malaysian national killed in the attack, also worked for Adam Smith International. He was the Budget Policy and Reform Advisor and was helping to reform the national budget process for Afghanistan. He had a doctorate in economics. 8. and 9.

Simon Chase was working a security detail and was a former British soldier. At the time he was a close protection officer working with the European Union police mission in Afghanistan. 6.

One Danish policewoman was killed in the attack. She was serving with the European Union police mission. 7.

Two Canadian citizens who worked from Samson and Associates as accountants doing auditing work for the Canadian International Development Agency were killed - Martin Glazer, 43 or Gatinequ, Quebec and Peter McSheffry, 49, of Ottawa. McSheffry leaves behind a wife and two daughters. He also worked for SOS Children' Villages (see SOS Children's statement). 4.

Afghan Fatalities. Among the Afghans were a young recently married couple. They had wed just five months ago and had honeymooned in Dubai.


News Articles on Jan 2014 Kabul Restaurant Bombing

February 8, 2014. "No Derailing Progress Now". Relentlessly Alive. A blogger who teaches school in Afghanistan remarks on Taverna du Liban.

January 24, 2014. "Afghan bombing stirs memories". Sedalia Democrat. An expat recalls her visit to the restaurant.

January 22, 2014. "The 'Taverna Du Liban' Bombing - An Eleventh Hour Wakeup Call". The Huffington Post.

January 21, 2014. "At a popular Kabul restaurant, the front lines of Afghanistan's war". Reuters. Article looks at the long-term effect of bombing on expats.

January 21, 2014. "A Treasure Gone in Kabul". Huffington Post. A former patron writes on the well-known restaurant and living in Kabul.

January 20, 2014. "Honouring fallen colleagues, top UN officials pledge continued support to Afghanistan". UN News Centre.

January 20, 2014. "One of Ours". Registan. Writer provides insight into the accomplishments of Alex Petersen.

January 20, 2014. "In memory of my friend Alexandros Petersen - a victim of the Taliban". The Spectator.

January 20, 2014. "Kabul's restaurant attack hurt by driving Afghans, foreigners further apart". The Globe and Mail. Article looks at the future ramifications.

January 19, 2014. "Kabul restaurant was beloved refuge; now it's terrorists' rubble". CNN News.

January 19, 2014. "Kabul restaurant attack: Foreign spies to blame". BBC News Asia.

January 18, 2014. "Restaurant Owner Loved The Patrons He Died Trying to Protect". Parallels NPR.

January 18, 2014. "White House condemns deadly Taliban attack on Kabul restaurant". United Press International.

January 18, 2014. "Afghanistan security probe after Kabul restaurant raid". BBC.

January 18, 2014. "Police: Death toll rises in Kabul attack". USA Today.

January 18, 2014. "Deadly Attack at Kabul Restaurant Hints at Changing Climate for Foreigners". The New York Times.

January 18, 2014. "Another Red Line Crossed: The Taverna attack and the killing of foreigners just because they were foreigners". Afghanistan Analysts Network. A very detailed accounting of the attack (as of Jan 18, 2014).

 

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Endnotes

1. For more on the restaurant owner see a January 17, 2014 news report entitled "Lebanese owner who died defending Kabul restaurant". BBC News Asia.

2. See "Kabul restaurant attack: 'Foreign spies' to blame". BBC News Asia, January 19, 2014.

3. For more on Basra Hassan see "Somali-born UNICEF worker identified as one of three Americans killed in Kabul suicide bombing", Daily Mail, January 20, 2014 and also a statement by UNICEF.

4. See "Bodies of 2 Canadians killed in Afghanistan to arrive at CFB Trenton Wed", CTV News, January 19, 2014.

5. Read a statement by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) about the death of Mr. Wabel Abdallah released on January 17, 2014.

6. Simon Chase is identified as a security contractor in "Two Britons killed in Kabul suicide attack on restaurant", BBC News, January 18, 2014.

7. See a statement by EUPOL Afghanistan condemning the attack and a statement by the European Union High Representative.

8. See statement by Adam Smith International on the death of Del Singh and Ganan Nagarajah.

9. See "Global firm names its Malaysian adviser killed in Kabul suicide bombing - Bernama", The Malaysian Insider, January 21, 2014.

 


 

 

 


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