Kabul: Four gunmen attacked Kabul's Inter-Continental Hotel on Saturday and started shooting at guests, an Afghan official
was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.
This is not the first time that Kabul's Inter-Continental Hotel has been targeted. In 2011, 21 people, including 10 civilians, were killed in a suicide attack.
An official for the Afghan spy agency has told AFP that five people have died and eight have been injured in the siege, which has gone on for 11 hours and still continues.
Here are the hihglights on the Kabul Inter-Continental Hotel attack:
Jan 21, 2018 15:52 (IST)
According to news agency AFP, the Taliban has claimed responsibility for the Kabul Inter-Continental Hotel attack.
Jan 21, 2018 12:22 (IST)
6 dead in Kabul hotel attack, says news agency AFP
An Afghan interior ministry deputy spokesman was quoted by news agency AFP saying that six people, including five Afghans and one foreigner, had died in the siege.
"Five Afghans and one foreigner have been killed," interior ministry deputy spokesman Nasrat Rahimi told AFP. He also told AFP that around 150 people were rescued, including more than 40 foreigners.
Jan 21, 2018 11:11 (IST)
Afghan Special Forces moved through Kabul hotel floor by floor: news agency Reuters
News agency Reuters reported on the Kabul attack, saying that Afghan Special Forces moved through Kabul's Inter-Continental hotel floor by floor fighting surviving gunmen, seizing hostages and staging an overnight siege.
In a report, Reuters said that 16 foreign nationals had been rescued but it was not clear what their nationalities were.
The report also said that an eyewitness, who didn't wish to be named, saw the attackers take hotel staff and guests hostage.
Jan 21, 2018 10:43 (IST)
Kabul hotel attack is over: interior ministry
News agency AFP has quoted the interior ministry as saying that the Kabul hotel attack is now over.
Jan 21, 2018 09:22 (IST)
Five people are dead and eight injured in Kabul's Inter-Continental hotel attack, an official for the Afghan spy agency told news agency AFP.
The official for the spy agency added that 100 hostages have been released.
The siege has gone on for 11 hours and still continues.
Jan 21, 2018 05:55 (IST)
An official from the National Directorate of Security official said, the fourth floor of the hotel, which boasts several restaurants and an outdoor swimming pool, had been set on fire during the raid.
Jan 21, 2018 03:15 (IST)
News agency AFP quoted an official saying the attackers were armed with small weapons and rocket-propelled grenades when they blasted their way into the hotel, which often hosts weddings, conferences and political gatherings.
Jan 21, 2018 01:00 (IST)
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the latest attack in the Afghan capital that followed a series of security warnings in recent days to avoid hotels and other locations frequented by foreigners.
Jan 20, 2018 23:24 (IST)
Intercontinental Hotel was targeted in 2011 also. 21 people, including 10 civilians, were killed in the suicide attack.