KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban said Tuesday that its suicide bombers would attack restaurants where Westerners eat in Kabul, an ominous new threat that forced American and European workers to restrict outings in the Afghan capital.
The country’s intelligence chief linked Monday’s deadly attack on the Serena Hotel — a well-guarded, high-profile property in Kabul frequented by Westerners — to a Pakistani militant. Afghan officials arrested four people, and said they included one of the three attackers, who was disguised in a police uniform.
The death toll in the bombing and shooting attack on the hotel rose to eight. An American, a Norwegian journalist and a Filipina, who died of her wounds Tuesday, were among those killed.
The American was identified as Thor Hesla, 45, of Atlanta, who worked for BearingPoint Management & Technology Consultants. The company has a contract with the U.S. Agency for International Development to help war-ravaged Afghanistan rebuild, a company spokesman said.
Suicide bombings have increased in the past two years, and the hotel attack was the first against a facility favored by Westerners.
Security companies that protect international workers in Afghanistan restricted Westerners’ movements Tuesday, placing restaurants and stores frequented by foreigners off-limits for some.
Kabul has about a half dozen restaurants popular with Westerners. The establishments do not allow Afghans entry because they serve alcohol, which is illegal for Muslims here.
The Taliban has targeted aid workers and civilian contractors with kidnappings and killings. But the Islamic militants have typically focused attacks on Western and Afghan officials or security personnel.
Amrullah Saleh, the head of Afghanistan’s intelligence service, said three militants stormed the hotel just after 6 p.m., hunting down Westerners who hid in the gym. A guard shot and killed one attacker at the gate to the hotel parking lot, which triggered his suicide vest.
A second attacker blew himself up near the entrance to the hotel lobby, and the third attacker made it inside and shot his way through the lobby and toward the gym, Saleh said.
The third attacker wore a police uniform and an explosive vest, he said.
Saleh said the attack was masterminded by Mullah Abdullah, a close ally of Pakistani militant leader Siraj Haqqani.
