DHAKA: Fighters of the Islamic State (IS) group in Libya have claimed an attack on Tripoli’s luxurious Corinthia Hotel,.

The SITE Intelligence monitoring group said on Tuesday.

In a message on Twitter, the IS branch in western Libya said that its militants had stormed the hotel, which is known for hosting foreign diplomats and Libyan officials, SITE said.

A car bomb had exploded outside the hotel earlier on Tuesday, killing three guards, a security official said.

Security forces were surrounding the hotel, where gunmen believed to be responsible for the blast were holed up inside the building.

BDST: 1927 HRS, JAN 27, 2015