Afghan forces end Kabul hotel siege that left at least six dead
Afghan special forces have killed all the gunmen who opened fire on guests at the Intercontinental hotel in Kabul, leaving at least six dead, an official said. The Taliban claimed five of its militants, wearing suicide vests, carried out the assault which began on Saturday night and led to a 12-hour gun battle when Afghan forces stormed the building.
The interior ministry deputy spokesman, Nasrat Rahimi, told Agence France-Presse one foreigner was among the dead. “The body of the foreigner, a woman, was recovered from the sixth floor as the last attacker was being killed,” he said. About 150 people were rescued including more than 40 foreigners, he added.
As dawn broke on Sunday, thick clouds of black smoke could be seen pouring from the hotel. Several armoured US military vehicles with heavy machine guns could be seen close to the hotel along with Afghan police units.
Television pictures also showed special forces troops manoeuvering on the roof as they conducted a floor-by-floor search of the sixstorey building to find the attackers. Several people could be seen climbing over a top-floor balcony using bedsheets to escape, with one losing his grip and plunging to the ground. The militants also took hostages from among staff and guests, and set the building ablaze. Firefighters were still battling to put out the blaze on Sunday afternoon. The militants launched the attack at about 9pm local time on Saturday, security officials said. Rahimi said they were armed with light weapons and rocket-propelled grenades.