The Ministry of Interior spokesman Najib Danish said at press conference early investigations show six insurgents entered the building from the northern side and stormed the kitchen of the Intercontinental Hotel. The last two attackers were killed by special forces on the 6th floor of the hotel.

The Taliban assault on the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul killed at least nine people, including a foreigner, and pinned security forces down for more than 13 hours before the last attacker was killed on January 21, with the casualty toll expected to rise.

The heavily-guarded luxury hotel is popular among foreigners and Afghan officials. However the Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said the six killed included a foreigner and a telecommunications official from the western Farah province who was attending a conference.

Six other people, including three security forces, were reported wounded and more than 150 people, including 41 foreigners, were rescued from the hotel,  Najab Danish reported.