Taliban claims responsibility for gunmen attack on Kabul Hotel
Gunmen attacked an upscale hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan Saturday night, killing at least six people, trapping hundreds of guests and setting off a firefight with Afghan security forces that lasted more than 12 hours.
Afghan security forces went on every floor of the six-story hotel in a clearing operation that left four attackers dead, ministry spokesman Najib Danish said.
He said four attackers were involved, but the Taliban released a statement claiming responsibility and saying it was carried out by five assailants. The attackers were affiliated with the Pakistan-based Haqqani network, according to the Interior Ministry. The ministry said that 153 people — including 41 foreigners — were rescued from the hotel.
Footage from outside the building showed fire and black smoke emanating from the hotel’s top floor. The U.S. Embassy in Kabul had put out an alert on Thursday saying it was “aware of reports that extremist groups may be planning an attack against hotels in Kabul,” though specifically mentioned a different hotel.
“The attack was carried out by #Pakistan based Haqqani Terrorist Network,” Javid Faisal, a spokesman for the Afghan government’s chief executive, said on Twitter.
