Kabul attack: Americans among those killed, officials say - BBC

Several Americans were killed and injured in a Taliban raid at a luxury Kabul hotel, US State Department have officials said.

Saturday's 13-hour siege at the Intercontinental Hotel left more than 20 dead, including a dozen foreigners.

"We express our deepest condolences to our American families and to all the victims of the attack," spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.

The state department did not release the exact number of Americans killed.

The six Taliban militants who stormed the hotel in suicide vests were looking for foreigners, eyewitnesses say.

An eyewitness, who is not being named for security reasons, told the BBC he was spared after saying he was an Afghan. "Where are the foreigners?" they shouted.

Some 160 people were rescued after Afghan troops fought throughout the night to regain control of the building.

Some of the details of the attack remain unclear, but it is reported that in addition to the Americans, seven Ukrainians and one German also died in the attack, officials said.

"The attack on the hotel, once again, shows the depravity of terrorists who seek to sow chaos," Ms Nauert said. -  Read More

Americans killed in Afghan hotel attack