MON JAN 18 2010 KABUL, AFGHANISTAN — Taliban militant insurgents attacked the presidential palace, several ministries and the Serena Hotel — host of many foreigners and visiting politicians. The attack began with gunfire about 10:00 a.m. Monday in downtown Kabul. At least five explosions heard.

Afghan security forces (about 200 members) responded to combat the insurgents — two policemen killed, 10 Afghan National Army soldier injured, and 18 Afghan National police were injured.

Taliban claims 20 fighters assaulted the city, and the Afghan government claims at least 10 insurgents were killed.

Wikipedia: Kabul | Afghan National Police | Afghan Ministry of Interior | Afghan National Army | Taliban

SOURCE: ABC News Taliban Strikes in the Heart of Kabul

DEC 15 2009 KABUL, AFGHANISTAN — A suicide car bombing in an elite neighborhood of Kabul, Afghanistan killed at least eight people and wounded at least 40. A man drove a car to a checkpoint near the Heetal Plaza Hotel in Kabul’s Wazir Akbar Khan district of the city — a bomb in the car detonated and exploded.

Wikipedia: Kabul | heetalplazahotel.com

SOURCE: Bloomberg.com: Car Bomb Kills Eight in Elite Kabul Neighborhood (Update1) …