Gunmen storm hotel in Kabul

No word on casualties, but two attackers were killed

KABUL— At l east four gunmen stormed a major international hotel complex in the Afghan capital Saturday, touching off gun battles and sending guests and staff fleeing for cover, officials and staff said.

There were no immediate reports on the extent of casualties from the clashes at the hilltop InterContinental Hotel, one of the city’s main sites for foreign visitors and envoys.

At least two attackers were killed, said Kabul police spokesperson Basir Mujahid, but clashes were ongoing hours after the group entered the hotel and portions of it were ablaze.

There also was no immediate claim of responsibility. The Taliban and Daesh, also known as ISIS or ISIL, have each waged attacks in the past against diplomatic targets and other sites in Kabul.

The attack was the latest strike on a high-profile target in Kabul, deepening worries about the ability of militants to strike at the heart of Afghanistan’s leadership. The hotel was hosting a meeting of more than 30 directors of communication and information technology companies from across the country.

On Thursday, the U.S. Embassy in Kabul issued a warning about “reports that extremist groups may be planning an attack against hotels in Kabul.” It gave no specifics on possible targets or how the intelligence was gathered.

The spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Interior Ministry, Najib Danish, said the number of casualties was not clear. But another Interior Ministry official, Nasrat Rahimi, said several people had been killed, according to The Associated Press.

The attackers managed to slip through security cordons and entered the hotel through the kitchen, Danish said. They appeared to include suicide bombers, he added.