Taliban militants have attacked a hotel in northwestern Afghanistan, killing at least three police officers.
Interior Ministry spokesman Nusrat Rahimi said at least three suicide bombers stormed a hotel in Qal-e Naw, the provincial capital of Badghis Province, around 12:30 p.m. on July 13.
He said the attackers opened fire at guests inside the hotel.
Rahimi said two of the attackers were killed in ongoing clashes with security forces.
Badghis Governor Abdul Ghafoor Malakzai gave a conflicting account, telling RFE/RL that there were four attackers. He said one had been killed, one captured, and two others were still holed up in the hotel.
Malakzai said besides the three dead police officers, two others were injured.
But Abdul Latif Rustahi, the head of the Badghis State Hospital, told RFE/RL that 16 people had been admitted to hospital, including 10 members of the security forces and six civilians, including a woman and two children.
Eyewitnesses told RFE/RL that the area was cordoned off by security forces.
Taliban spokesman Mohammad Yusef Ahmadi claimed responsibility for the incident and said suicide bombers had stormed the hotel.
With reporting by Tolo News and AFP