Gunmen killed at least five people and wounded eight others in an <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/attack-on-kabuls-intercontinental-hotel-continues-several-dead-30191" target="_blank">attack</a> on Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel, an official said Sunday, as the eleven hours-long siege continued. &nbsp;

"Five are dead," an official with the Afghan spy agency told AFP, adding 100 hostages have been released. &nbsp;

Afghan security forces were still trying to clear the landmark hilltop hotel with at least one attacker on the loose, a security source said.

Dramatic images broadcast on Afghanistan's Tolo News showed thick black smoke and flames billowing from the top floor of the hotel.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/kabuls-intercontinental-hotel-under-attack-by-at-least-four-gunmen-30184" target="_blank">Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel under attack 'by at least four gunmen'</a>

At least one person could be seen climbing over a top-floor balcony using bedsheets to escape, before loosing his grip and plunging to the ground.

Four gunmen burst into the hotel on Saturday night, opening fire on guests and staff and taking dozens of people hostage, including foreigners.&nbsp;

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the latest assault in the war-torn Afghan capital that followed a series of security warnings in recent days to avoid hotels and other locations frequented by foreigners.

The National Directorate of Security added that at least eight were wounded

Gunmen killed at least five people and wounded eight others in an attack on Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel, an official said Sunday, as the eleven hours-long siege continued. "Five are dead," an official with the Afghan spy agency told AFP, adding 100 hostages have been released. Afghan security forces were still trying to clear the landmark hilltop hotel with at least one attacker on the loose, a security source said. Dramatic images broadcast on Afghanistan's Tolo News showed thick black smoke and flames billowing from the top floor of the hotel. Also read: Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel under attack 'by at least four gunmen' At least one person could be seen climbing over a top-floor balcony using bedsheets to escape, before loosing his grip and plunging to the ground. Four gunmen burst into the hotel on Saturday night, opening fire on guests and staff and taking dozens of people hostage, including foreigners. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the latest assault in the war-torn Afghan capital that followed a series of security warnings in recent days to avoid hotels and other locations frequented by foreigners.

At least 5 dead in Kabul hotel attack, 100 hostages rescued: Afghan spy agency

Afghanistan&#39;s Interior Ministry has said the attack on Kabul&#39;s Intercontinental Hotel is over.&nbsp;

The siege -- which began on Saturday night -- lasted for close to 12 hours.&nbsp;

The interior ministry said three attackers had been killed. It added that 126 people, including 41 foreigners, had been rescued.&nbsp;

And that five civilians had been killed and six wounded.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/at-least-five-dead-in-kabul-hotel-attack-afghan-spy-agency-30204" target="_blank">At least 5 dead in Kabul hotel attack, 100 hostages rescued: Afghan spy agency</a>

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/kabuls-intercontinental-hotel-under-attack-by-at-least-four-gunmen-30184">Kabul&#39;s Intercontinental Hotel under attack &#39;by at least four gunmen&#39;</a>

The attackers had barged into the hotel on Saturday night, which was due to host an IT conference today.&nbsp;

&quot;Four attackers are inside the building,&quot; an official at the National Directorate of Security (NDS) spy agency told AFP at the beginning of the attack. They are &quot;shooting at guests&quot;, he said.

Hotel guests inside, speaking to people outside, said they saw scenes of celebration turn into a chaotic nightmare in a minute. And that they saw people running in terror, some of them falling as they got hit by bullets.&nbsp;

News reports had quoted a number of guests saying over the phone that were hiding in their rooms, and begging the security services to come rescue them. Later, the reports said, they found the guests&#39; phones switched off.&nbsp;

Special forces were early Sunday morning dropped onto the roof of the luxury hotel by helicopter.&nbsp;

By the time the siege got over, thick black smoke was billowing out of parts of the hotel.&nbsp;

Local television channel TOLO News however is still reporting that the sound of gunfire can be heard emanating from the hotel.&nbsp;

And some media outlets are reporting that the final death count is six, not five. And that the dead include a foreigner -- a woman.&nbsp;

So far, nobody has claimed responsibility for the attack. The Kabul Intercontinental however was also attacked in 2011 by the Taliban.&nbsp;

Afghanistan's Interior Ministry said 126 people, including 41 foreigners, had been rescued

Afghanistan's Interior Ministry has said the attack on Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel is over. The siege -- which began on Saturday night -- lasted for close to 12 hours. The interior ministry said three attackers had been killed. It added that 126 people, including 41 foreigners, had been rescued. And that five civilians had been killed and six wounded. Also read: At least 5 dead in Kabul hotel attack, 100 hostages rescued: Afghan spy agency Also read: Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel under attack 'by at least four gunmen' The attackers had barged into the hotel on Saturday night, which was due to host an IT conference today. "Four attackers are inside the building," an official at the National Directorate of Security (NDS) spy agency told AFP at the beginning of the attack. They are "shooting at guests", he said. Hotel guests inside, speaking to people outside, said they saw scenes of celebration turn into a chaotic nightmare in a minute. And that they saw people running in terror, some of them falling as they got hit by bullets. News reports had quoted a number of guests saying over the phone that were hiding in their rooms, and begging the security services to come rescue them. Later, the reports said, they found the guests' phones switched off. Special forces were early Sunday morning dropped onto the roof of the luxury hotel by helicopter. By the time the siege got over, thick black smoke was billowing out of parts of the hotel. Local television channel TOLO News however is still reporting that the sound of gunfire can be heard emanating from the hotel. And some media outlets are reporting that the final death count is six, not five. And that the dead include a foreigner -- a woman. So far, nobody has claimed responsibility for the attack. The Kabul Intercontinental however was also attacked in 2011 by the Taliban.

Kabul hotel siege over after close to 12 hours, 3 attackers killed: Government

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At least 5 dead in Kabul hotel attack, 100 hostages rescued: Afghan spy agency

Kabul hotel siege over after close to 12 hours, 3 attackers killed: Government