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Taleban attack Kabul luxury hotel Taleban attack Kabul luxury hotel
(about 1 hour later)
The Taleban say four of their fighters have attacked the luxury Serena hotel in the Afghan capital, Kabul, popular with foreign visitors. The Taleban say that four of their heavily armed fighters have attacked the Serena hotel in the Afghan capital, Kabul, popular with foreign visitors.
One guest told the BBC that there was a huge explosion followed by gunfire. Guests were rushed to the cellar for their own safety. Guests, including the Norwegian foreign minister, were rushed to the cellar to escape the attackers.
Reports say at least one person was killed. The Taleban say one of their men managed to detonate a bomb. There was at least one explosion, which the Taleban say was caused by one of their men detonating a 'suicide jacket', as well as shooting.
Last month, the Taleban carried out at least two suicide attacks in the city. Casualty figures are not clear. Police have kept journalists from the scene.
'Escaped''Escaped'
Taleban spokesman Zadihullah Mujahid told the BBC that the four Taleban fighters were suicide attackers, armed with Kalashnikovs, grenades and explosives jackets.Taleban spokesman Zadihullah Mujahid told the BBC that the four Taleban fighters were suicide attackers, armed with Kalashnikovs, grenades and explosives jackets.
He said that one of the men managed to let off his explosives inside the hotel and the others escaped.He said that one of the men managed to let off his explosives inside the hotel and the others escaped.
The attack on the hotel, which is heavily guarded, happened early in the evening.The attack on the hotel, which is heavily guarded, happened early in the evening.
A guest who was in the hotel gym told the BBC she heard a huge explosion followed by gunfire. She also said she saw one body in the hotel. There are conflicting reports on how the attack unfolded and the number of people killed is unclear.
There are conflicting reports over the sequence of the attack and some reports say two security guards were killed. One guest told the BBC that there was a huge explosion followed by gunfire at the hotel, which is popular with international visitors as a dining venue as well as a hotel.
The BBC has been told that the Norwegian ambassador to Afghanistan and a delegation from the Norwegian embassy were at the hotel at the time. She also said she saw one body in the hotel.
Many international workers are based at the Serena. A spokesman for the Nato peacekeeping force said hotel guards killed one of the attackers before he got inside the building.
Norwegians injured
Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gah Store was in the hotel, together with a delegation from the Norwegian embassy, when the attackers struck.
The attacked happened early in the evening
One Norwegian journalist and one member of the Norwegian diplomatic team were injured. Many international workers are based at the Serena.
In December the Taleban carried out two suicide bombings in Kabul, killing 13 people in one attack.In December the Taleban carried out two suicide bombings in Kabul, killing 13 people in one attack.
Later in December, a rocket attack near the Kabul governor's residence killed five people.Later in December, a rocket attack near the Kabul governor's residence killed five people.
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