Gunmen ‘attack’ InterContinental Lodge in Kabul

Afghan particular forces are struggling with gunmen who private attacked a serious hotel in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul.

Four attackers armed with automatic weapons stormed Inter-Continental Lodge on Saturday, security sources told Al Jazeera.

It is believed that suicide bombers are among them.

There had been reports that a form of of us had been being held hostage, whereas a glimpse said that fragment of the building, one of the vital greatest luxury accommodations in Kabul, changed into on fire. Explosions had been additionally heard within the location.

A govt spokesman said particular forces had been on the scene struggling with the attackers, killing no longer much less than one of them.

« Security forces are going ground-to-ground in that hotel, making an try to flush out those attackers, » Al Jazeera’s Jennifer Glasse, reporting from Kabul, said. 

Talking to Al Jazeera rapidly after the attack had started, a particular person within Inter-Continental described a « very dire location ».

« I spoke with any individual within the hotel … [who] said attackers had been within the hotel and position fire to a form of floors, » said Glasse.

« We all know that there had been guests within the hotel on the time of the attack and that a wedding changed into additionally going. The within ministry said that those within the marriage ceremony party had been evacuated, as private some guests and workers, » our correspondent added.

There changed into no quick claim of obligation.

Beforehand attacked

The incident came days after US Embassy in Kabul issued a warning that said armed groups would maybe also be planning assaults in opposition to accommodations within the metropolis.

« Kabul has been on excessive alert for the final few days as prominent delegations private attain by the metropolis, » said Glasse, calling the attack is a « blow » to security forces.

The Inter-Continental, positioned on a hill overlooking Kabul, is in overall heavily guarded thanks to its popularity with govt officers and foreigners residing the Afghan capital.

This changed into the 2nd time that the Inter-Continental Lodge in Kabul came under attack.

In 2011, an in a single day assault by Taliban gunmen and suicide bombers on the hotel ended with the killing of the attackers by security forces and the deaths of no longer much less than 10 civilians.

A 2011 image exhibiting smoke and flames rising from hotel after coming under attack [Reuters]