Logo latiendadejm

Logo latiendadejm

jueves, 25 de agosto de 2016

Kabul raid: Security forces shoot dead university attackers

Afghan men walk towards an ambulance after they were rescued from the site of an attack at American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, Afghanistan on 24 August 2016Image copyright Reuters
Image caption Terrified students and staff who were barricaded inside the university are now reportedly free

Afghan security forces have shot dead two gunmen who attacked the American University in the capital, Kabul.


One person, reportedly a guard, died and at least 20 were injured in an assault by militants that began with a huge blast on Wednesday evening.


Students and staff were trapped inside the building as security forces searched for attackers, but police said the operation was now over.


No group has so far claimed responsibility.


Police had described the attack, which began at about 19:00 local time (14:30 GMT), as "complex". Special forces were on the scene along with American military advisers.


Fraidoon Obaidi, chief of Kabul police"s Criminal Investigation Department, told AFP on Thursday morning: "We have ended our clean-up operation. Two attackers were gunned down."


Peace remains a distant dream in Afghanistan


Viewpoint: The toll of terror in Afghanistan and Pakistan


US to keep most troops in Afghanistan, Obama says


One of those trapped inside the university for several hours was Massoud Hossaini, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist, who tweeted his experience and pleaded for help.


Image copyright Twitter

He later managed to escape and told the Associated Press news agency about the attack, which began with an explosion as he was in a classroom with 15 students.


"I went to the window to see what was going on, and I saw a person in normal clothes outside. He shot at me and shattered the glass," Mr Hossaini said, adding that he fell on the glass and cut his hands.


The students then barricaded themselves into the classroom. Mr Hossaini said at least two grenades were thrown into the classroom, wounding several classmates.


He and about nine students later managed to escape from the campus through an emergency gate.


"As we were running I saw someone lying on the ground face down, they looked like they had been shot in the back," he said.


Student Ahmad Mukhtar told the BBC that he was 100m (320ft) away from the university"s main entrance on his way home when he heard "six or 10" shots and a "huge" blast.


The explosion created so much light that it momentarily lit up the surrounding area, he said.


"I climbed a six-metre wall to escape," Ahmad said.


Other trapped students and staff tweeted or posted on Facebook their desperate pleas for help.


Image copyright Facebook
Image copyright AP
Image caption Afghan forces rushed to the scene after the blast and gunfire were heard
Image copyright AP
Image caption Emergency personnel evacuated the wounded

The attack comes two weeks after two university staff – one American, one Australian – were kidnapped by unknown gunmen. Their whereabouts remain unknown.


The university, which first opened its doors to students in 2005, is a non-profit private university chartered in the US.


It offers English courses, adult professional qualifications and bachelor degree programmes, among others.


About 1,700 students are enrolled; many are adults who study part-time and also have jobs.


Image copyright EPA
Image caption An image of the university from earlier in August shows its fortified perimeter

Original Article



Kabul raid: Security forces shoot dead university attackers
http://latiendadejm.com/blog/kabul-raid-security-forces-shoot-dead-university-attackers/

| | La tienda de JM

No hay comentarios:

Publicar un comentario