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Kabul luxury hotel's attackers killed - police Kabul luxury hotel's attackers killed - police
(about 2 hours later)
Afghanistan's special forces have killed three gunmen who broke into a luxury hotel in the capital Kabul, police have told the BBC. Afghanistan's special forces have killed four gunmen who broke into a luxury hotel in the capital Kabul and opened fire, local officials say.
They say the special forces are now searching the five-star Serena hotel for more attackers. The gunmen - said to be teenagers - entered the five-star Serena Hotel claiming they were going for a meal. They hid their pistols in their socks.
The gunmen managed to get into the building, which is popular with foreigners, claiming they were heading for a meal at the hotel restaurant. At least eight gunshots were heard in the hotel popular with foreigners.
They then opened fire, reportedly injuring two hotel staff. Two hotel staff were injured, reports say. The Taliban said it was behind the attack.
At least eight gunshots were heard, reports say. The gunmen arrived at the hotel at about 18:00 local time (13:30 GMT) claiming to be diners at a special buffet put on to mark Nowruz, the spring equinox and the start of a new year.
The building was later surrounded by members of the elite Afghan Crisis Response Unit. They started shooting three hours later after hiding in a toilet.
There were reports that one of the attackers might be hiding in a bathroom. "The information we have received from the guards of the hotel show that the assailants were under 18 years old and managed to enter the hotel under the pretext of having dinner and they had hidden pistols under their socks," Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqi was quoted as saying by Tolo TV.
No group has so far claimed responsibility for the raid, but the Afghan authorities have blamed Taliban militants for similar attacks. The building was immediately surrounded by members of the elite Afghan Crisis Response Unit, who shot dead the attackers.
The Serena hotel lies less than 1km (0.6 miles) from the presidential palace and key government ministries. The Serena Hotel lies less than 1km (0.6 miles) from the presidential palace and key government ministries.
It currently houses UN staff who will be monitoring April's elections. It currently houses UN staff who will be monitoring April's presidential elections.
The hotel has been one of the most frequent targets of the Taliban, and it has been successfully attacked several times before, the BBC's David Loyn in Kabul reports.