One of Kabul’s leading hotels, popular with foreigners and government officials, was under attack by gunmen, the head of police criminal investigations in Kabul said on Tuesday, with the British newspaper The Telegraph reporting at least ten deaths and suicide bombers on the roof of the hotel.
“It’s an attack on the Intercontinental Hotel. There are several gunmen shooting,” said Kabul Criminal Investigations Chief Mohammad Zahir, adding that “a number” of policemen had been wounded. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed the militant Islamist group was behind the attack, which he said was targeting foreign guests in the hotel.
Witness Sayed Hussain told AFP he was inside the hotel compound when the attack started. “I saw five to six men in civilian clothing armed with rifles who started shooting when they entered,” he said, speaking close to the scene. “I lay down on the ground and soon after the police arrived,” he added. He said police and the attackers then traded fire for about 10 to 15 minutes before he heard a loud explosion.
An AFP reporter near the scene also reported hearing at least one explosion and heavy gunfire. He said the hotel was now in darkness after power in the area had apparently been cut. Traffic had also been diverted from the area and police were out in force with more arriving, he added. The Intercontinental is one of Kabul’s best-known high-end hotels.
It is situated on a hill above the city and was established in 1969. Security at most luxury hotels in Kabul was significantly stepped up after a 2008 attack on the Serena Hotel in the city centre killed seven people including at least three foreigners. The attack comes weeks before foreign forces are expected to start withdrawals from Afghanistan, although security in the capital Kabul is already under the control of Afghan security forces.
Taliban attack top Kabul hotel
