At least 21 people were killed Friday, most of them foreigners, in a well-coordinated Taliban assault on a restaurant popular with Westerners in Kabul, Afghanistan, officials said.
A suicide bomber blew himself up outside the restaurant at around 7:30 p.m., after which two gunmen rushed in and opened fire on the patrons dining inside.
Among the victims, 13 were believed to be foreigners. It was the deadliest violence against foreign civilians in the country since the start of the war nearly 13 years ago, the AP reported.
The U.S. Embassy in Kabul confirmed two Americans were killed in the attack.
The U.S. Embassy has confirmed that at least two private U.S. citizens were among the victims of last night’s terrorist attack in Kabul.
The United Nations confirmed four of its staff were among the dead.
Another victim was a representative of the International Monetary Fund in Afghanistan.
Wabel Abdallah, a 60-year-old Lebanese national and IMF representative in Afghanistan, killed in attack on Lebanese restaurant in Kabul.
The attack also claimed the life of a British national.
RT @_EmmaGH Foreign office confirms British national among #KabulAttack victims, no further details for now
As well as two Canadian citizens.
CBC News has learned that 2 Canadians were killed in a suicide bombing in Kabul. They were not government officials or members of military.
The Taverna du Liban restaurant in the upmarket neighborhood of Wazir Akbar Khan is very popular with foreign journalists, diplomats, and Western aid workers.
Like many foreign journos, I've had dinner at Taverna du Liban many times. Hoping friends in Kabul are safe tonight. http://t.co/9gXEcahMnj
Devastated to hear about the attack at Taverna du Liban in Kabul, one of my favorite spots in the city: http://t.co/ygOVCmNPzV
The Lebanese owner of the Taverna, Kamal Hamade who was a very popular face in Kabul, also died in the attack.
V V sad news Kabul. Our dear Lebanese friend Kamal, the kindest of hosts, was killed in #Taliban attack Kabul. #Afghanistan was his home.
Shocked and very sad to hear that Taverna du Liban owner Kamal Hamade, a familiar face to many in #Kabul, was killed in tonight's attack
Many tweeted their concerns about Hamade's safety before the news of his death was confirmed.
Really hope Kamal is ok, he would always give my little sister a whole cake to take home with her as he was fond of her. #prayingforkabul
Hearing Lebanese Taverna restaurant in Kabul was attacked tonight. Afghan friends who are covering, does anyone know if owner Kamel is okay?
Kamal's daughter, Mona Hamade who studies in the UK, sought information about her father's safety on Twitter as news of the attack broke.
The Taliban, who claimed responsibility for the attack, said in a statement that those killed were German nationals.
"This evening around 7 p.m. in Kabul, [Wazir Akbar Khan] district, we attacked one of the restaurants with a suicide attack where foreign invaders were having their dinner.
In this attack we have used very heavy explosives which caused heavy losses to the enemy. According to our initial information, which we received, in this attack we attacked senior officials from the German military and government."
The German foreign ministry said it could not confirm that Germans were involved.
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said none of the dead included U.S. Embassy staff in Kabul.
