Islamic State group claims attack on Chinese hotel in Kabul

By RAHIM FAIEZ
Associated Press

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for a coordinated attack on a Chinese-owned hotel in Afghanistan’s capital. Taliban officials said three assailants were killed and two hotel guests were injured as they tried to escape by jumping out from a window during the attack on Monday afternoon. Images on social media from the Kabul Longan Hotel showed plumes of smoke rising from the building amid explosions and gunfire. Taliban officials said the attack lasted several hours. IS said it targeted the hotel because it’s owned by “communist China.” Beijing condemned the attack and on Tuesday advised its citizens in Afghanistan to leave the country “as soon as possible,” following the attack.