RTSat, 20 Jan 2018 19:01 UTC
© ReutersView of the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul Afghanistan, Jan. 25, 2016
The attackers have taken several hostages in the hotel,
according to local news agency Tolo News who cited Kabul police.
The gunmen entered through the hotel kitchen, before moving to rooms 104 and 105, according to local journalist Bilal Sarwary, who cited an Afghan special forces commander.
There's no immediate reports of injuries and no group has claimed responsibility yet.On Thursday, the US State Department warned of a possible attack in Kabul.
The Department said it had received reports of "extremist groups" planning a hotel attack in the capital, "such as [on] the Hotel Baron near Hamid Karzai Int'l Airport."
Comment: Update (Jan. 21): All three attackers on the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul
have been killed and their hostages released, the Afghan government has said, announcing the end of a long siege. However, gunshots are reportedly still being heard.
Afghan forces regained control of the hotel and killed the three attackers on Sunday morning following a 12-hour siege, local media reported citing the Interior Ministry. One foreign citizen was reportedly among five killed in the attack. At least six others were wounded according to TOLOnews, while Pajhwok says that 10 people were injured.
Despite officials announcing the end of the siege, there were contradicting reports from local media citing witnesses and reporters on the ground, saying that the attack was not over and gunshots were still being heard. Later a spokesman for the Afghan interior ministry clarified that the clear-up operation is ongoing.
Comment: Update (Jan. 21): All three attackers on the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul have been killed and their hostages released, the Afghan government has said, announcing the end of a long siege. However, gunshots are reportedly still being heard.