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Nine killed in Kabul hotel suicide attack Nine killed in Kabul hotel suicide attack
(about 1 hour later)
Nine people were killed when gunmen broke into a hotel in the Afghan capital Kabul and attacked diners, a government minister has told the BBC.Nine people were killed when gunmen broke into a hotel in the Afghan capital Kabul and attacked diners, a government minister has told the BBC.
Two children and four foreign nationals were among the dead, with six other people wounded, said Deputy Interior Minister General Mohammad Ayub Salangi.Two children and four foreign nationals were among the dead, with six other people wounded, said Deputy Interior Minister General Mohammad Ayub Salangi.
Special forces killed the four gunmen who broke into the Serena Hotel, which is popular with foreigners.Special forces killed the four gunmen who broke into the Serena Hotel, which is popular with foreigners.
The Taliban said it was behind Thursday evening's attack.The Taliban said it was behind Thursday evening's attack.
The gunmen - said to be teenagers - entered the five-star Serena Hotel with pistols hidden in their socks.The gunmen - said to be teenagers - entered the five-star Serena Hotel with pistols hidden in their socks.
They arrived 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.They arrived 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.
They started shooting three hours later after hiding in a toilet.They started shooting three hours later after hiding in a toilet.
The dead included four women, three men and two children. The nationalities of the foreigners killed is not known. The dead included four women, three men and two children. Two of the women were from New Zealand and Canada, and two of the men from India and Pakistan; the others killed were Afghans.
An Afghan MP, Habib Afghan, was among the wounded, shot in the face, stomach and leg.An Afghan MP, Habib Afghan, was among the wounded, shot in the face, stomach and leg.
"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."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.
The building was immediately surrounded by members of the elite Afghan Crisis Response Unit, who shot dead the attackers.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 presidential 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.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.