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Several dead as gunmen attack top Kabul hotel
[GEO.TV] Gunmen attacked Kabul’s Intercontinental Hotel on Saturday, seizing hostages and exchanging gunfire with security forces as the building in the Afghan capital caught fire and residents and staff fled.Hotel manager Ahmad Haris Nayab ‐ who escaped unhurt ‐ said the attackers had got into the main part of the hotel through a kitchen and people tried to get out amid bursts of gunfire. Several people had been killed and at least six maimed in the raid, which came days after a US embassy warning of possible attacks on hotels in Kabul, Nasrat Rahimi ‐ an interior ministry front man ‐ said. However, a person who gets all wrapped up in himself makes a mighty small package... officials gave no other details on casualty numbers. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the latest in a long series of attacks, which underlined the city’s precarious situation and the ability of Death Eaters to strike blows aimed at undermining confidence in the Western-backed government. Officials said there were as many as four attackers and at least two of them had been killed as Afghan Special Forces cleared the first floor and moved up the building, battling the raiders, who appeared to have a large supply of hand grenades. Hours after the attack began, firing appeared to ease as security forces settled in, waiting for dawn. According to one witness, who did not want to be named, the attackers took some hotel staff and guests hostage. He said some foreigners were among the hotel guests but it was not clear what their nationality was. The Intercontinental Hotel ‐ located on a hilltop and heavily protected like most public buildings in Kabul ‐ was previously attacked by Taliban ...the Pashtun equivalent of men... fighters in 2011.
Posted by: Fred 2018-01-21 |
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