<p><a href="/en/afganistan/kabul" class="glossify-link">KABUL</a>.”</p>
<p>The attack that lasted several hours involved four heavily armed attackers who were killed by the Afghan commando forces and police, the Ministry of Interior said in a statement.</p>
<p>The assault began at around 7:00pm last night and continued until Sunday noon.</p>
<p>The interior ministry quoting the spy agency, National Directorate of Security, said the attack was planned by the Haqqani Network.</p>
<p>The security forces rescued 160 guests including 31 foreigners from the hotel. Five people were killed and 10 others wounded in the attack, the ministry said.</p>
<p>The <a href="/en/taliban" class="glossify-link">Taliban</a> have claimed responsibility for the attack, the second major attack on the hotel since 2001.</p>
<p>Zabihullah Mujahid, Taliban’s spokesman, in an email said their five fighters launched the attack on the Intercontinental Hotel at around 10pm on Saturday night.</p>
<p>He claimed several foreign troops and guests suffered casualties in the during the attack that ended at 11am Sunday.</p>
<p>The Taliban said the hotel was hosting a gathering of Afghan and foreign officials when it was attacked.</p>
<p>At the time of the attack, officials from 34 provinces had gathered for a meeting organized by the Telecommunications Ministry.</p>
<p>sa/ma</p>
<p> </p>
