JAN 23, 2018 – Americans were among the dead and injured in the weekend attack by Taliban militants on a luxury hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan.

A total of 22 people, at least 14 foreigners, were killed in the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul over the weekend after Taliban militants attacked it. The exact number of American citizens killed and injured were not immediately issued on Tuesday by the US State Department.

At least four assailants raided the hotel at about 21:00 local time (16:30 GMT) on Saturday, detonating explosives, taking people hostage, and shooting at individuals as some terrified guests and employees used bed sheets to climb down balconies to escape.

The siege ended on Sunday after the attackers were killed.

Special forces, including the Crisis Response Unit as well as foreign troops based in Afghanistan, were called in to end the siege at the high-end hotel, which is frequented by foreigners.

The Ukrainian ambassador to Afghanistan confirmed that at least seven of among the dead were Ukrainians.

A German, a Kazakh and two Venezuelans have also been reported dead.

Najib Danish, a spokesman for the Afghan Interior Ministry, said on Tuesday that eight Afghans were also among the dead.

Interior Ministry deputy spokesman, Nasrat Rahimi, said that around 150 people were rescued, including more than 40 foreigners.