Gunmen storm luxury hotel in Tripoli, take hostages; 8 killed

Tripoli, Jan 27: At least four foreigners were killed after two gunmen stormed the luxurious Corinthia Hotel here on Tuesday after killing at least three guards and exploding a car in the parking lot, reports said. The gunmen later blew themselves up, authorities said. A security officer was also killed.

The Islamic States claimed responsibility for the action.

Corinthia Hotel is the most prominent hotel in the Libyan capital and is popular with foreigners.

Car bomb explodes outside #Libya's biggest hotel; #militants reportedly open fire http://t.co/a83r8nw2jc pic.twitter.com/EzTqbC6KOm

— TheNewsMinute (@thenewsminute) January 27, 2015

Hotel staff members said the masked gunmen with bulletproof vests entered the hotel after overpowering the security guards and opened fire randomly in the lobby.

The hotel had Italian, Turkish and British guests hours before the attack and it was largely empty when the attackers entered, said hotel sources. Two Filipino women were injured by smashed window glasses, a Reuters report said.

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