Terrorists strike in suicide bombings, gunmen attacks at luxury Kabul hotel used by Westerners

Terrorists stormed Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel on Tuesday, exploding bombs, roaming the halls terrorizing guests and firing rockets from the roof into the night sky.

After five hours of running gun battles in the hotel hallways, officials said two NATO choppers shot the men on the roof and commandos took out the remaining gunmen.

Seven people were killed and eight wounded, not counting the attackers, Afghan officials said.

"We were locked in a room. Everybody was shooting and firing," said Abdul Zahir Faizada, a hotel guest.

The hotel, popular with Westerners, had about 60 to 70 guests, mostly Afghan dignitaries attending a conference today on maintaining security during the U.S. military pullout.

Stark images of the hotel's top floors ablaze were broadcast following the attack.

The NYPD tightened security at New York hotels just to be on the safe side.

The highly coordinated attack began at 10 p.m. local time with several explosions both in front of the hotel and on its second floor.

Officials said there were at least six attackers.

The invaders carried machine guns, anti-aircraft weapons, hand grenades, rocket-propelled grenades and grenade launchers, officials said.

Power was cut to the hotel, plunging it into darkness - making it harder for the gunmen to find their way, but likely adding to the terror of guests cowering in their rooms.

Two gunmen were killed by hotel guards at the beginning of the attack and four others either blew themselves up or were killed in the air strike or by Afghan security forces, said an official.

The Taliban took credit for the operation

In 2008, militants stormed Kabul's other popular luxury hotel, the Serena, hunting down Westerners hiding in a gym, killing eight.
(nydailynews)