Kabul, Nov 22: A rocket exploded in the garden outside Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel today, shattering windows and damaging a nearby wall but causing no casualties, authorities said. "We can confirm that a rocket has landed and exploded in the Intercontinental Hotel garden," said Maj. Kevin Arata, a spokesman for the International Security Assistance Force, which maintains security in the capital. "As far as we know there has been no damage to the hotel and there have been no casualties."
An ISAF quick reaction force, as well as dozens of police vehicles, were at the scene.
The Intercontinental is one of Kabul's few upscale hotels, and a favourite location for visiting businesspeople and journalists.
Hotel director Arif Marcheen said the blast sent glass from windows and doors in a 30-metre wall raining down into the hotel lobby.
"Suddenly the lights went out, the explosion hit and the building shook," Marcheen told the associated press. "All the glass in the lobby shattered but no one has been injured."
Marcheen said the hotel has 140 rooms and was nearly full. He said he had no idea who would have attacked the hotel.
Taliban insurgents have launched an increasingly bold campaign throughout the country in recent months, but attacks in the capital are relatively rare.
Bureau Report