Armed men opened fire on Monday inside a hotel in central Kabul popular with Chinese nationals, in the latest violence in Afghanistan as it tries to stabilise after the withdrawal of U.S.-led foreign forces, APA reports citing Reuters.
While the firing was continuing in the hotel, a fire broke out on one of the floors, the sources said, adding that they expect casualties.
A video posted on Twitter by a journalist in Kabul showed smoke billowing out of a multi-story building, with one lower floor on fire.
The attack took place around 2:30 p.m. local time when armed men targeted a hotel where “common people were staying”, Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran said, adding that forces were trying to secure the area.
Residents of the area said the attack was carried out at a building where Chinese and other foreigners usually stay. The shooting continued after they heard a powerful explosion, they said.
The attack came a day after China’s ambassador met the Afghan deputy foreign minister to discuss security-related matters and sought more attention on the security of its embassy.
At least three attackers were killed by security forces in Afghanistan on Monday after armed men opened fire inside a hotel in central Kabul popular with Chinese nationals, a spokesperson for the Taliban-run administration said.
The attack has now ended and no foreigners were killed, although two of them were injured while trying escape the attack by jumping from the hotel balcony, spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.