Battle Rages at Kabul Hotel—Gunmen Kill 5 Civilians

Truthdig editor’s note: On Saturday night Pacific Standard Time, AP was reporting that conditions in the hotel were uncertain, and some media sources said the violence was ongoing.

KABUL, Afghanistan—An Afghan official says at least five civilians have been killed after gunmen stormed the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul and have been fighting security forces for 11 hours into Sunday morning.

Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish says six other civilians are reported to be wounded and more than 100 people, including 16 foreigners, have been rescued from the hotel.

The bodies of four attackers have been recovered as security forces continued to clear the landmark hotel.

Danish says security forces are going room-by-room to make sure all attackers have been accounted for.

No one has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, which started around 9 p.m. Saturday.