Afghan police forces arrive at the site of a gun battle at Serena Hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, March 20, 2014. Nine people were killed including two Canadians.
Photo Credit: Massoud Hossaini/AP

Two Canadians among dead at Kabul hotel attack

Two Canadians, were among the nine people killed in an attack at the Serena Hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan Thursday night (March 20).

At the time of the attack, the hotel restaurant was packed with Afghans celebrating the eve of Nowruz, the Persian New Year, as well as foreigners who frequent the hotel.

Police killed all four attackers after a three-hour standoff, with gunshots resounding through the cordoned off streets outside.

The two Canadians who were killed were identified on Friday as Roshan Thomas, a Vancouver optometrist who founded a school in Kabul and Zeenab Kassam, a 37-year-old woman from Calgary. A nurse Kassam, had been in Afghanistan volunteering as an English teacher.

Also killed in the attack was Agence France Presse journalist Sardar Ahmad, his wife and two children.

More information:
Globe and Mail – Canadians among nine killed in Kabul hotel attack – here
CBC News – Roshan Thomas of Vancouver, Zeenab Kassam of Calgary die in Kabul hotel attack – here
Guardian – Sardar Ahmad: a courageous journalist who delivered exceptional coverage – here

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