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| Gunmen attack Intercontinental Hotel in Afghan capital Kabul (VIDEO) | Gunmen attack Intercontinental Hotel in Afghan capital Kabul (VIDEO) |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Intercontinental Hotel in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul is under attack according Reuters, citing an interior ministry spokesman. | The Intercontinental Hotel in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul is under attack according Reuters, citing an interior ministry spokesman. |
| The group of “three or four men,” who appeared to include suicide bombers, attacked the hotel Saturday and exchanged gunfire with security forces, according to ministry spokesman, Najib Danish. | The group of “three or four men,” who appeared to include suicide bombers, attacked the hotel Saturday and exchanged gunfire with security forces, according to ministry spokesman, Najib Danish. |
| The attackers have taken several hostages in the hotel, according to local news agency Tolo News who cited Kabul police. | The attackers have taken several hostages in the hotel, according to local news agency Tolo News who cited Kabul police. |
| The hotel’s manager Ahmad Haris Nayab, who managed to escape unhurt, told Reuters the attackers infiltrated the hotel and started shooting at fleeing guests. He wasn’t able to provide details about casualties, however a local news station reported some 35 casualties, citing a security source. | |
| The attackers are “shooting at guests,” according to AFP who cited an Afghan spy agency. A guest hiding in his room told the news agency he “heard gunfire from somewhere near the first floor." | The attackers are “shooting at guests,” according to AFP who cited an Afghan spy agency. A guest hiding in his room told the news agency he “heard gunfire from somewhere near the first floor." |
| "We are hiding in our rooms. I beg the security forces to rescue us as soon as possible before they reach and kill us," the trapped guest added. | "We are hiding in our rooms. I beg the security forces to rescue us as soon as possible before they reach and kill us," the trapped guest added. |
| The fourth floor of the hotel is also on fire, according to an official from the National Directorate of Security who spoke to AFP. | The fourth floor of the hotel is also on fire, according to an official from the National Directorate of Security who spoke to AFP. |
| A local news reporter for an Afghan television network reported hearing an explosion from outside the burning building. While a resident living close to the hotel reported hearing “another two explosions,” according to TOLO news. | |
| The gunmen entered through the hotel kitchen, before moving to rooms 104 and 105, according to local journalist Bilal Sarwary, who cited an Afghan special forces commander. | The gunmen entered through the hotel kitchen, before moving to rooms 104 and 105, according to local journalist Bilal Sarwary, who cited an Afghan special forces commander. |
| There's no immediate reports of injuries and no group has claimed responsibility yet. | There's no immediate reports of injuries and no group has claimed responsibility yet. |
| On Thursday, the US State Department warned of a possible attack in Kabul. The Department said it had received reports of “extremist groups” planning a hotel attack in the capital, “such as [on] the Hotel Baron near Hamid Karzai Int'l Airport.” | On Thursday, the US State Department warned of a possible attack in Kabul. The Department said it had received reports of “extremist groups” planning a hotel attack in the capital, “such as [on] the Hotel Baron near Hamid Karzai Int'l Airport.” |
| The Intercontinental is one of two main luxury hotels in Kabul and previously came under attack in 2011. Seven people died in that assault, when several gunmen and suicide bombers, three of which detonated their devices, attacked the facility. | The Intercontinental is one of two main luxury hotels in Kabul and previously came under attack in 2011. Seven people died in that assault, when several gunmen and suicide bombers, three of which detonated their devices, attacked the facility. |
| In 2014, nine people, including children, were killed during a Taliban attack on Kabul’s Serena Hotel. Four teenage gunman penetrated several layers of security by hiding pistols in their socks to infiltrate the venue favored by foreign visitors. | In 2014, nine people, including children, were killed during a Taliban attack on Kabul’s Serena Hotel. Four teenage gunman penetrated several layers of security by hiding pistols in their socks to infiltrate the venue favored by foreign visitors. |
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