Fierce gunbattle continues after Taliban assault hotel at Qargha Lake area popular with wealthy Afghans and foreigners. Officials say insurgents armed with rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns attacked the Spozhmai Hotel in the Lake Qargha area. Reports say there were casualties and that hostages - including women and children - are being held in the hotel. The Taliban have claimed the attack.
Afghan Taliban gunmen, some armed with rocket propelled grenades and heavy machine guns, have attacked Spozhmai hotel at Kabul's popular Qargha Lake recreation area, triggering a gunbattle in darkness, Afghan police said on Friday.
"Currently, police forces have besieged the hotel where people gathered for a picnic or wedding party," Kabul deputy police chief Daoud Amin told the AFP news agency.
"We will be very careful so that not to harm to civilians," he added.
Violence has recently increased across Afghanistan, with at least three US soldiers and about 20 Afghans killed in a series of attacks over the past seven days.
The attacks come as Nato prepares to hand responsibility to Afghan forces when the alliance's combat troops leave in 2014.
The Afghan Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, saying wealthy Afghans and foreigners used the hotel to have "wild parties" in the lead up to the Friday religious day holiday.Â
Norwegian
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