Armed Taliban insurgents stormed a resort hotel outside of Kabul Friday, firing on guests and taking hostages.
Fourteen Afghan civilians, three security guards and an Afghan police officer died in the attack, said Mohammad Zahir, criminal director for Kabul police.
“The attackers entered the hotel and suddenly opened fire on families having a late dinner,” Zahir said. “The hotel was crowded. Some of the guests jumped from the window into the hotel yard. They were hiding under trees or any safe place they could find.
“Three of the guests jumped into the lake and hid in the water,’ ‘ he added.
Journalist Mustafa Kazemi used Twitter to chronicle the massacre that left 18 dead. Here are his tweets from shortly after the attack, followed by the intense series of tweets he sent during the bloody firefight.
This was when I was preparing my 1st aid for possible injuries after several bullets fell a meter or two away from me pic.twitter.com/YachHrnT
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
One young man was shot dead with a lite cigarette in one hand & the cigarette pack in the other hand. He couldn’t smoke the cigarette.
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Another young man was killed with his coke glass filled and not taken a sip. His hand was going to approach the glass.
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
I spoke to one teenager who was a hostage. His face was injured with a shrapnel. He was inside for 12 hours but eventually escaped himself.
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
The area was full of machine gun casings and small arms casings & cartridges.
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
According to one official, the Taliban had taken the pants off a young boy, he was lying dead naked in his own blood in a corner.
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
I picked few cartridges and bullet casings. Here are souvenirs for me & gifts for you from the death-&-life struggle pic.twitter.com/4SLdahtP
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
I was ready for death today again. But somehow I narrowly missed it. Strange.
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
I saw Swedish Special Forces roaming around the hotel but they were not engaged in the combat with insurgents.
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
A team of Americans also came to observe the situation. But neither were they engaged in combat.
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
There was a birthday cake lying smashed in the hall where the insurgents kept the hostages 🙁
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
The entire operation was led by Afghan Forces: CRU, ANP, ANA, Commandoes, NDS.
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
The chief of Kabul police told me that the ISAF forces offered to help tackle the situation in the hotel but the Afghan forces were enough.
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
https://twitter.com/combatjourno/status/216120486873137153
The birthday cake that I was talking about. Lying smashed in the murder house during attack today http://t.co/XNFcGyjb | thanks @WasHasNaz
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
These are Mustafa Kazemi’s tweets as he made his way to the scene and witnessed the horrific attack.
I'm headed to the attack scene now. Fierce combat underway right now. Prayers.
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Kabul Police Chief says 18 hostages have been rescued from inside the Spozhmay hotel so far — @AhMukhtar
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
The route to spozhmay hotel is blocked by uniformed police. Journos with press badges can cross the checks though. First check at edu minstr
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Several checkpoints filter the passengers en route to spozhmay hotel.
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Attackers have entered the hotel at 11 am.
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
I got an email from the Taliban taking responsibility of the attack.
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Sporadic gunshots. Machine gun bursts too. Closing the scene
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
*closing to the scene
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
It's a hostage situation.
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
6 civilian killed so far
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
6 attackers nested in the building
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Gunshots
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
More gunshots
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Two reinforcement police ranger vehicle headed towards the spot now.
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Sporadic gunshots
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
I luckily got a sunblock cream from a friend here. In gonna get tanned
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Gunshot sounds come from two directions
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Kabul chief of police says 18 hostages have been rescued so far. Doesn't say if any trapped or not
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Police vehicle rushed towards city. Possible casualties
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Going off route to make a way towards back of the scene. As close as possible
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Stuck in the gunfight. Oh shit
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Machine gun bursts every aide
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Two grenade blasts
Shrapnels off my head— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
At the back of the hotel. Lookin fr cover before next grenade blow my head.
Smoke Comin out of hotel
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Sporadic rifle & machine gun fires
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Two uh 60 choppers flying up high
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Extremely strong blast
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
There are hostages inside!
Relative of one says their phone unreachable— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
ISAF helicopters flying in a pair around
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
USAF helicopters on my head
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Three strong explosions
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Dodged few bullets off my head while approaching down the hotel
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
A witness says the hostage takers executes few people inside at the beginning with shooting them in the head each
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
A strong explosion. Like not other before
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
This is the hotel. Gunshots being heard now too pic.twitter.com/p6GF49cM
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Crisis Response Unit arrived at the area
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
A lot of gunshots
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Back on track. UH60s flying as low as 10 meters on the building and on us
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Two times when I was disconnected the gunshots were coming towards us
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Gunshots restarted
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Helicopters pulled off
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
This a US Army helicopter over our head pic.twitter.com/EbSdtvDq
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Police reinforcement arrive
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Gunshots flying over our head at our direction sometimes
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Cameramen covering head while shots fly toward us. This is where people come to picnic, now we're hanging at our lives pic.twitter.com/FKE96h8r
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Gunshots more on us and other directions
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Oh. A journalist at the meantime made tea here
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Strong blast
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Fierce gunfight
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Gunshots toward us oh my
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Gunshots gunshots
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Gunshot fierce
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Two strong blasts
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Burst of heavy machine gun
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Oh god gunshot really fierce
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Bullets flying every side
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Hard to survive today
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Gunshots more on us
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Fierce gunshots
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Several type of weapons firing
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Blast
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Gunshots too much
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Oh god bullets over our head
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Strong blast
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Gunshots over onto us
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
People pray for us
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Men yelling around building
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Gunshots heavier
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Can hear sounds of bullets flying over us
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Gunshots badly flying around d
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Heavy machine gun fires all over
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Stuck in the gunfight
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
God hundreds of shots flying towards us
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Too many gunshots
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Heavy gunfight
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Occasional kindness by bullets flying over our head
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Twitter guys please I need whitelist I'm running limited on data I can't wait in this situation @Ed @twitter @Support pls do something
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
@Ke_Ga @manageflitter need unlimited API calls
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Gunshot restarted
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Extremely strong blast
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Rocks over my head broke in pieces
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Police vehicles with casualties rushing towards city.
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Two more heavy explosion
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Either if the forces are using mortars too. Shells landing everywhere
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
A mortar shell landed few hundred meters away from us
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Heavy explosion
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
You won't believe but someone is helping their editor complete a story on prostitution right now
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
It's quite silent right now
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
@AhMukhtar is also here tweeting from blackberry
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Very strong blast
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Several steing
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Dead flat gunfight
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Several strong blasts
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Strong wave of gunfire few strong explosions also
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Heavy explosions
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Bullets flying all around
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Gunfight slowed down
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Explosions one after another
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Strong blast
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Extremely strong blast
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Strong blast again
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Followed by sporadic gunshots
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Several strong blasts.
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Gunshots. Machine guns and small arms fire
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Witnessed one army soldier just got shot dead
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Heavy blast again
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
One tree branch shot cut fell on us
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Bullets fired towards the cameras and the stone barrier we're sheltering
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Heavy machine gun fires ongoing
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Heavy gunfight all around. Several bullets cross overhead
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Journo joking: we need to sacrifice one cow each of in case we survive.
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Gunfight. N
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Bullets flying low overhead as usual
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
BREAKING — strongest gunfight going on with blasts
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
There were helicopters at first but now when they're needed for suppressing fire
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Heavy blast
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Sporadic shots continue
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
One wounded civilian woman
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Police car rushing with casualties towards city
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
So far 35 people have been rescued. Four women one of them wounded
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Fighting restarted
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Few bullets hit too close to us scared folks
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
BREAKING – Kabul Police chief says the attackers had used Burqas to enter the hotel
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
Total Deaths — 12 civilians, 1 Police, 2 Private security guards killed. Four Taliban attackers killed. One woman, 1 PSG wounded.
— Mustafa Kazemi (@CombatJourno) June 22, 2012
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