The Taleban say four of their fighters have attacked the luxury Serena hotel in the Afghan capital, Kabul, popular with foreign visitors.
One guest told the BBC that there was a huge explosion followed by gunfire.
Guests were rushed to the cellar for their own safety.
Reports say at least one person was killed. The Taleban say one of their men managed to detonate a bomb.
Last month, the Taleban carried out at least two suicide attacks in the city.
'Escaped'
Taleban spokesman Zadihullah Mujahid told the BBC that the four Taleban attackers were armed with Kalashnikovs and grenades.
He said that one of the men managed to let off his explosives inside the hotel and the others escaped.
The attack on the hotel, which is heavily guarded, happened early in the evening.
The BBC has been told that the Norwegian ambassador to Afghanistan and a delegation from the Norwegian embassy were at the hotel at the time.
Many international workers are based at the Serena.
Are you in the area? Have you been affected by this incident? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below:
You can send pictures and video to:
yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. Click here to see terms and conditions
At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.
(BBC)
<< Back