A group of armed men have attacked a hotel in the Papua New Guinea capital where 17 refugees from the Manus Island detention centre were awaiting medical treatment.

The Kurdish Iranian journalist, Behrouz Boochani, who is detained at the centre said the attack happened on Sunday night at about 11 oclock.

Mr Boochani said four men armed with guns took two of the refugees hostage along with their guards, who were employed by the company Wilson Security.

He said money was taken from the guards and one of the refugees was assaulted.

Mr Boochani said the armed men fired their weapons at hotel security staff before escaping in a waiting vehicle.

He said the refugees, who had been at the hotel for nearly two months, have been traumatised by the attack, but their request to be sent back to Manus Island had been denied.