Islamic State group claims attack on Chinese hotel in Kabul

The militant Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for a coordinated attack on a Chineseowned hotel in Afghanistans capital that left three assailants dead and at least two of the hotel guests injured as they tried to escape by jumping out from a windowBeijing on Tuesday advised its citizens in Afghanistan to leave the country as soon as possible following the attackThe militant strike on the Kabul Longan Hotel on Monday afternoon sent plumes of smoke rising from the 10story structure building in the heart of the city according to images posted on social media Residents reported explosions and gunfireTaliban forces rushed to the area and blocked all roads leading to the site in the central Share Naw neighbourhood Khalid Zadran the Talibanappointed spokesman for the Kabul police chief said the attack lasted several hours followed by a cleanup operationHours later the regional affiliate of the Islamic State group a key rival of the Taliban since they seized power in Afghanistan over a year ago claimed responsibility for the attackAlso Read US condemns Kabul attack calls on Taliban to live up to its commitmentsIn a statement carried by one of the militant Telegram channels used by IS the group said two of its members targeted the hotel because it is frequented by diplomats and owned by communist ChinaThe statement further claimed IS attackers detonated two bags with explosives that were left in the hotel earlier including one in the main hall and set fire to a part of the hotel The militant group offered no proof for its claimsThere were conflicting reports as to the casualty numbersTaliban officials said three assailants were killed IS claim said only two of its members took part in the attack identifying them by name and posting their photographsAccording to Zabihullah Mujahid the Taliban government spokesman two foreign residents were injured when they jumped out of windows to escape the fightingBut the Emergency Hospital in Kabul said in a tweet it received 21 casualties including the bodied of three peopleOn Tuesday Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin called the attack egregious in nature and said China was deeply shockedChina demanded a thorough investigation and urged the Taliban government to take resolute and strong measures to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens institutions and projects in Afghanistan Wang saidThe Chinese Embassy in Kabul sent its team to the site to help with the rescue treatment and accommodations for the victims of the attackIn view of the current security situation in Afghanistan the Ministry of Foreign Affairs once again advised Chinese citizens and institutions in Afghanistan to evacuate from Afghanistan as soon as possible Wang saidThe IS regional affiliate known as the Islamic State in Khorasan Province has increased its attacks since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever