Kabul hotel attacked – media – RT World News

A hotel in northwest Kabul was attacked on Monday, a security official confirmed. Loud explosions and gunshots were heard at the scene, according to witnesses and footage. The fighting reportedly broke out at a guest house, which is believed to be popular among foreigners, including Chinese contractors visiting Afghanistan.

According to TOLO News, security forces arrived at the scene and cordoned off the part of Shahr-e Naw neighborhood where the attack took place. Khalid Zadran, spokesman for the Afghan capital’s police command, confirmed that an operation to apprehend the attackers was underway.

There were no immediate official reports on the identity of the attackers or potential victims.

In footage purporting to show the incident and shared on social media, apparent gunfire can be heard in the background. Some videos show a large building with flames visible at some windows and smoke coming from under the roof.

A witness told TOLO News that the fighting started with two loud explosions, followed by small bangs.

The attack in Kabul came a day after Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan Wang Yu raised the issue of security in Afghanistan during a meeting with Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, who is Deputy Foreign Minister of the Taliban government.

Kabul reported that the Chinese diplomat expressed concern for the security of his mission. Stanikzai assured the official that the issue was of paramount importance to the host country, the Afghan Foreign Ministry said.

Providing security has been a major objective for the Taliban since they took control of the country last August after toppling the US-backed government. The movement is locked in a conflict with the terrorist group Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS), which carries out periodic attacks against religious minorities, Taliban forces and other high-value targets.

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