On the evening of January 16th, 2008, Taliban extremists wearing Afghan police uniforms attacked foreigners at the five-star Serena hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan. The attack killed at least eight people, including several foreign journalists and one of the extremists. It was the most audacious attack on western non-military or law-enforcement personnel to date, and raised questions about security in the capital city.

The attack was carried out by four Taliban extremists targeting foreigners staying at the Serena. The militants entered the hotel, then began firing pistols and tossing hand-grenades. One murder-bomber detonated his explosive vest, killing himself, while the others continued to shoot at hotel patrons. Afghan police claimed to have shot and killed one attacker before he was able to enter the hotel and detonate his explosive vest. The Taliban claimed that all four wore explosive jackets, but only the two murder-bombers detonated their bombs. One detonated his in the hotel lobby and another on the hotel roof after being locked out of the hotel. It was unsure why the other murder-bomber failed to detonate his bomb-vest after firing on hotel guests.

When the shooting started, several guests, including Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gah Stoere, took refuge in a cellar and escaped unscathed. The Taliban claimed that Stoere, who was attending a Norwegian embassy meeting at the hotel, was the target of the attack. Suzanne Griffin, a U.S. aid worker who was in the hotel gym locker room, told the Associated Press, "We heard gunfire, a lot of it. It was very close; close enough that plaster came off the ceiling."

When Blackwater personnel, in Afghanistan training several police and border control units, heard the gunfire and explosions, they raced to the scene to assist authorities. Ms. Nickie Scioli, Executive Director for Encorp International Inc., was staying at the hotel when the attack began. Hiding from the terrorists, Ms. Scioli feared for her life. She was rescued by Blackwater personnel, who moved her in armored vehicles to a safe house, where she was provided protection, food and shelter.

Still the capital of a war torn nation, Kabul is a risky place for foreigners. Ms. Scioli credits Blackwater’s quick response with providing the assistance foreigners need, and is grateful for their quick actions that evening.