Kabul: On Monday, armed men opened fire on a hotel popular with Chinese nationals in central Kabul, prompting security forces to kill at least three gunmen. The Taliban administration gave this information. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid wrote on Twitter, ‘Two foreigners were injured trying to escape by jumping from the hotel balcony.’
Kabul’s emergency hospital run by an Italian non-profit near the hotel attacked in the Shahr-e-Nawa area reported 21 casualties, including 18 wounded, while three died. Taliban sources said the attack was carried out at the Longan Hotel where Chinese and other foreigners usually stay.
A video posted on Twitter by a journalist in Kabul and verified by Reuters showed smoke billowing from a floor amid gunfire, while a man was seen trying to escape the attack by jumping from a hotel window. Eyewitnesses said that after the explosion, shots were fired and the building caught fire and smoke started coming out of the guesthouse. The Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan said it was closely monitoring the situation and taking relevant actions.
Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran said the attack happened at around 2.30 pm local time. Residents of the area said they heard a powerful explosion followed by gunshots. The attack came a day after the Chinese ambassador discussed security-related matters with Afghanistan’s deputy foreign minister and demanded more attention to the security of his embassy.
China’s official Xinhua news agency said the attack happened near a Chinese guesthouse and its embassy in Kabul was closely monitoring the situation. When Reuters sought a response from the embassy on the attack, they did not respond.
Afghanistan has been rocked by several bombings in recent months, including an attack on the Pakistani embassy earlier this month and a suicide blast near the Russian embassy in September. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for both attacks. The Taliban, who seized power in August 2021 after the withdrawal of US-led foreign forces, have said their focus is on keeping the country safe.
