Afghan forces end hotel siege in Afghanistan capital
Afghan special forces have ended a 12-hour siege at Kabul’s Intercontinental Hotel, leaving at least five civilians killed in an attack claimed by the Taliban armed group, a government official has told Al Jazeera.
Six people were wounded in the attack, while 153 others, including 41 foreigners, were evacuated, Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish told Al Jazeera on Sunday.
“We recovered the bodies of at least four attackers as a clearance operation is ongoing in the building,” he told Al Jazeera.
The Inter-Continental Hotel is situated on a hill overlooking Kabul [Wakil Kohsar/AFP]
The Inter-Continental Hotel is situated on a hill overlooking Kabul [Wakil Kohsar/AFP]
The four gunmen stormed the heavily-guarded hotel located on a hilltop in the Bagh-e Bala area late on Saturday setting off a gunbattle with security forces that continued into Sunday morning.
Witnesses on the scene told Al Jazeera that gunshots were heard even after the official announcement that the siege was over.
“The firing is still going on. I can hear sound of gunshots and explosives. My son is trapped inside. I am not sure if he alive or dead,” Karim, whose son worked as a cleaner in the hotel, told Al Jazeera.
“They should at least give me his dead body if he is not alive,” the 80-year-old said.
Karim as been waiting outside the hotel since the attack started and witnessed the seige through Sunday morning. He said many people were held hostages and the number of people killed might be more than what the government officials were stating.
The Interior Ministry said a private firm assumed responsibility for the security of the hotel around three weeks ago, and were investigating how the attackers managed to enter the building that is frequented by government officials and foreigners.
At the time of the attack, at least 34 provincial officials were gathered at the hotel to participate in a conference organised by the Telecommunication Ministry.
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| Afghan security forces keep watch near the site of the attack [Mohammad Ismail/Reuters] |
Previously attacked
The incident came days after the US embassy in Kabul issued a warning that said armed groups may be planning attacks against hotels in the city.
“Kabul has been on high alert for the last few days as prominent delegations have come through the city,” said Glasse, calling the attack is a “blow” to security forces.
This was the second time that the hotel came under attack.
In 2011, an overnight assault by Taliban fighters and suicide bombers on the hotel ended with security forces killing the attackers and the deaths of at least 10 civilians.
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| A 2011 image showing smoke and flames rising from hotel after coming under attack [Reuters] |