Afghan media reports say several explosions and gunshot bursts were heard as the unidentified gunmen attacked the multi-story Kabul Longan Hotel on Monday, December 12.
TOLOnews, citing Kabul Security Department’s Spokesman Khalid Zadran, reports that gunmen attacked a hotel on Monday in downtown Kabul, in the Shar-e-Naw area.
The attack reportedly took place around 2:30pm local time when the unidentified armed men opened fire inside the hotel.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said all guests had been evacuated and no foreign nationals were killed in the attack.
“Only two foreigners who jumped from the flat received injuries,” Mujahid was cited as saying.
A government source told TOLOnews that there were four attackers and one of them blew himself up at a security gate.
The source said that the three other attackers were shot dead by the Islamic Emirate forces.
According to the source, one member of Islamic Emirate forces was killed and three others were wounded.
The Khaama Press News Agency says the attack happened the day after the Chinese Ambassador, Wang Yu, met with Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, to address security-related issues and to request more attention for the protection of its embassy.
Al Jazeera reports that later on Monday, ISIL (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the attack on its Telegram channel. The group said two of its personnel “attacked a big hotel frequented by Chinese diplomats and businessmen in Kabul, where they detonated two explosive devices hidden inside two bags,” one of them targeting a party for Chinese guests and the other targeting the reception hall.
The regional ISIS affiliate, also known as the Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP), has escalated its activities in Afghanistan.
