Nine dead, including AFP reporter, in Kabul hotel attack

Nine people have been killed in an attack at a hotel in Afghanistan’s capital city of Kabul.

According to CNN, the Agence France-Presse confirmed on Friday that staff reporter Sardar Ahmad, his wife and two of his three children were among the nine killed at the Serena Hotel.

Authorities have said that four teenagers, armed with pistols, got into the hotel and randomly shot at civilians inside.

Time has reported that the teens gained access to the luxury hotel after passing through security undetected. The gunmen apparently had the weapons hidden in their boots.

This is the latest in a string of recent attacks as the country prepares for its first democratic power transfer since 2001.

Many election-related threats by the Taliban have been reported and carried out over the past few months. To the militant group, the attacks and threats serve as intimidation factors to keep many Afghans away from the polls. The tactics have worked before and now it is uncertain what kind of turnout will show up to vote.