Four killed in Afghan hotel attack

Four assailants were killed while three people were seriously wounded here Thursday night when Taliban attacked a hotel frequented by foreigners, a government spokesperson said.

Four people, who hid pistols in their socks, pretended to have come to have dinner in the restaurant of the Serena Hotel, located near the presidential palace, at around 6.00 p.m., Xinhua quoted interior ministry spokesperson Seddiq Seddiqi as telling media.

The attackers began firing at around 9 p.m., the official said, adding the police checked the security camera and found the attackers were aged 20 or even younger

Two local security guards and a foreign worker of the hotel were seriously wounded, Seddiqi added.

The Taliban insurgent group claimed the responsibility for the attack.

The fighters (militants) had killed several foreign and Afghan officials who took part in a New Year party, a Taliban spokesperson later told reporters.

Afghan Interior Minister Mohammad Omar Daudzai later visited the site.