Gunmen storm state-owned hotel in Afghan capital

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan (AA) - A group of armed attackers stormed the state-owned Inter-Continental Hotel in the Afghan capital Kabul late on Saturday, officials said.

The iconic 20th century hotel is located on a hill in the western Bagh-e-Bala neighborhood of the city with usually tight security around it.

According to the Ministry of Interior spokesman Najib Danish, at least four attackers are involved in the attack, and one of them has been shot dead by the security forces.

Danish said the special units of the Afghan National Police (ANP) have launched clean-up operation at the hotel.

Local media Kabul Monitor has reported that among many local and foreign guests, officials from all 34 provincial directorates of broadcasting and information technology, were present at the hotel when the attack took place at around 09.40 p.m. local time (1710 GMT).

There has been no immediate claim of responsibility.

In 2011, at least 12 people were killed after nine Taliban militants attacked the same hotel.