Taliban attacks hotel in Afghanistan

Three security guards were killed by the Taliban as they attacked a lakeside hotel in the north of Kabul.

A Taliban spokesperson, Zabiullah Mujahid, said the Taliban attacked the hotel and its guests due to the consumption of alcohol by the foreigners and participating in other activities banned by Islam.

Hostages were always taken as a gun battle between Afghan security forces and at least three Taliban suicide bombers lasted for hours this morning.

The Afghan police said the suicide bombers were armed with machine guns, rocket-propelled grenade and vests laden with explosives.

After killing the guards, the attackers stormed the Spozhmai hotel at Qargha Lake at around 11.30pm last night and at least one police officer was also killed during the attack.

An battle raged on between an unknown number of militants and Afghan forces and last until mid-morning Friday as NATO helicopters circled overhead.

Civilian casualties were reported but details were unavailable because Afghan authorities were unable to access the hotel.

Afghan forces managed to rescue around 18 people, including women and children, from inside the hotel while two of the attackers were left dead.

Another four guests escaped from the two-story hotel by jumping out of a window and hid from their attackers by crouching in the lake nearby.