Are the exchanges of fire still continuing in the attack on the hotel in the Afghan capital?

An attack on a hotel in the Afghan capital left 11 people dead, and the exchange of fire continues.

This is the InterContinental Hotel that was attacked by militants in Kabul, Afghanistan, on January 21. The InterContinental Hotel in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, was attacked by militants on the 20th. At least one militant and several civilians have been killed so far. There are no reports of casualties among Chinese citizens.

According to news on January 21, Afghan police officials confirmed to Xinhua News Agency reporters on the 21st that as of 11:30 a.m. local time (15:00 Beijing time), the attack at the InterContinental Hotel in the capital Kabul had caused numerous casualties. At least 11 people, including the attacker, were killed and 20 injured.

The official said the number of casualties is expected to rise further as the exchange of fire and confrontation continues.

Scattered huge explosions and gunshots can still be heard at the hotel's perimeter blockade. On the balconies of some hotel rooms, people used bedsheets and curtains to tie ropes to escape, and armed men shot at media and people gathering places outside the hotel. The reporter saw multiple ambulances on standby at the scene, and the injured had been transferred to nearby hospitals for treatment.

As of 11 a.m. local time, the firefight between security personnel and militants had lasted for more than 12 hours. Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish told the media that security personnel had rescued about 100 people.

Witnesses told reporters that the attack began around 9 pm local time on the 20th. Four militants wearing bomb vests and armed with heavy weapons rushed into the hotel and started attacking people present in the lobby on the first floor. They fired indiscriminately, and Afghan military security personnel rushed to the scene to fight back.

Other local media reported that militants disguised themselves as Afghan military police and drove into the hotel area carrying numerous weapons and ammunition to carry out attacks.

The Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan announced in the early morning of the 21st that after verification from various parties, there are no reports of Chinese citizens checking in or casualties at the InterContinental Hotel in Kabul. All Chinese institutions and embassy personnel in Afghanistan are safe.

The Afghan Ministry of Interior issued a statement on the morning of the 21st, accusing the "Haqqani Network" armed organization of planning the attack outside Afghanistan. The armed organization has not yet responded to this. The "Haqqani Network" is an extremist armed organization closely related to the Taliban. It often operates in Kabul and some eastern provinces of Afghanistan and has caused many attacks.

On January 18, the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan issued a security warning on its official website, saying that extremist organizations were planning to attack hotels and guesthouses in Kabul.

As one of the few high-end hotels in Afghanistan, the InterContinental Hotel in Kabul mainly receives senior officials and foreign guests. The hotel was attacked by "Haqqani Network" militants on June 28, 2011, resulting in the death of 21 people, including 10 civilians.