By Zabihullah Tamanna
KABUL
The Taliban have claimed responsibility for an attack on a guesthouse that killed five people in the Afghan capital Kabul on Wednesday night.
An American and two Indian citizens were among the five killed when gunmen attacked the guesthouse, leading to clashes with security forces that lasted into Thursday morning.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Anadolu Agency by phone that the Taliban "conducted the attack on the guesthouse frequented by invaders."
Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi told reporters early Thursday that a U.S. citizen was killed when "terrorists stormed the hotel at 9 p.m. [local time] which resulted in the deaths of five, while six others were wounded."
The hotel is popular with Indian staff at Afghan government ministries. A police officer who attended the rescue operation confirmed two Indian nationals also were killed in the attack.
Indian Ambassador in Kabul Amar Sinha used Twitter to say some Indians were killed or wounded following the attack.
"Unfortunately a few Indian causalities among others at the Kabul guesthouse attack today," he tweeted.
The six-hour standoff between the attackers and security forces lasted into Thursday morning.
"The security forces rescued 54 people including foreigners and women. We have identified the body of one assailant but are searching for more possible attackers," Rahimi said.
Roads around the hotel, located near the Dutch and EU diplomatic missions, were cordoned off by police and Special Forces.
There was no initial claim of responsibility for the assault although the Taliban, who launched their spring offensive last month, have previously targeted guesthouses in the capital.
In 2010, suicide bombers attacked same guesthouse, killing 16 people including an Italian and several Indians, and wounding 32.
