Peer's wife: I hid in cupboard as Taliban searched hotel

"My heart was pounding": Lady Hodgson at home in Kensington with Monty

A British woman told today how she survived the bloody siege of the Intercontinental hotel in Kabul by hiding in a cupboard for six hours.

Fiona Hodgson took refuge in a friend's room when Taliban gunmen stormed the hotel two weeks ago, killing 11 Afghans.

Lady Hodgson, wife of former Tory MP Lord (Robin) Hodgson, had travelled to Afghanistan independently to investigate women's fears about the transition to Afghan-only security.

She had eaten dinner with a Kabul MP and staff from ActionAid and was back in her room when the gunfire started as up to nine Taliban fought their way into the hotel. They then went from room to room looking for westerners.

Lady Hodgson said: "I knew then that something was going on and banged on my friend's door. I don't know why but I said 'We've got to get into the cupboard' - it was behind the door to the room which would swing back against it.

"And so we sat there, in the dark, still dressed in the clothes we'd worn to dinner while the firing continued. We put our phones on silent because we were terrified of being discovered. My heart seemed to be pounding so loudly I felt the gunmen could surely hear it."

Lady Hodgson and her friend dialled an emergency number at the British Embassy and were told to stay where they were.

The gunfire became intermittent before erupting again as Nato began an assault to end the siege. "Suddenly we could hear doors being kicked in and shots. Then the helicopters came and the most massive explosions," she said.

The women were rescued by New Zealand SAS troops. The Taliban attackers were all killed. Lady Hodgson said: "I'm fine talking about it all, but perhaps part of me is in emotional lockdown. I just feel so very sorry for those who lost loved ones or did not survive."

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