Top Kabul hotel under attack: police chief

KABUL — One of Kabul's leading hotels which is popular with foreigners and government officials is under attack, the head of police criminal investigations in Kabul told AFP Tuesday.Witnesses reported hearing two explosions and said that several gunmen had got into the high-security Intercontinental Hotel late in the evening."It's an attack on the Intercontinental Hotel," said Kabul criminal investigations chief Mohammad Zahir. "Five to six gunmen have taken shelter inside the building of the hotel."Zahir said that one suicide attacker had blown himself up so far and "a number" of police had been injured in the ongoing fighting, including he himself who had been shot in the leg.There was no immediate detail on other casualties.Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed the militant Islamist group was behind the attack which he said was targeting foreign guests in the hotel.AFP reporters close to the scene reported hearing at least two explosions within the space of about an hour and heavy machine gun fire.Witness Sayed Hussain said he was inside the hotel compound when the attack started."I saw five to six men in civilian clothing armed with rifles who started shooting when they entered," he said, speaking close to the scene. "I lay down on the ground and soon after the police arrived."He added that police and the attackers then traded fire for about 10 to 15 minutes before he heard a loud explosion.One of the AFP reporters said the hotel was in darkness after power in the area had apparently been cut. Traffic had also been diverted from the area and police were out in force with more arriving, he added.The Intercontinental is one of Kabul's best-known high-end hotels. It is situated on a hill above the city and was established in 1969.Security at most luxury hotels in Kabul was significantly stepped up after a 2008 attack on the Serena Hotel in the city centre killed seven people including at least three foreigners.On that occasion, Taliban attackers disguised as police stormed the interior.The attack

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