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Kabul raid: Seven students among 13 dead in university attack | Kabul raid: Seven students among 13 dead in university attack |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Thirteen people, including seven students, died in an attack by gunmen on the American University in the Afghan capital Kabul, police say. | Thirteen people, including seven students, died in an attack by gunmen on the American University in the Afghan capital Kabul, police say. |
Two attackers were also shot dead by security forces nearly 10 hours after the assault began with an explosion on Wednesday evening. | Two attackers were also shot dead by security forces nearly 10 hours after the assault began with an explosion on Wednesday evening. |
Students and staff were trapped inside the university during the attack, which police said was now over. | Students and staff were trapped inside the university during the attack, which police said was now over. |
No group has said it carried out the attack. | |
The victims also included three police and three guards. Thirty-five students and nine police were injured and about 750 students and staff were rescued, Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi told the BBC. | The victims also included three police and three guards. Thirty-five students and nine police were injured and about 750 students and staff were rescued, Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi told the BBC. |
Peace remains a distant dream in Afghanistan | Peace remains a distant dream in Afghanistan |
Viewpoint: The toll of terror in Afghanistan and Pakistan | Viewpoint: The toll of terror in Afghanistan and Pakistan |
US to keep most troops in Afghanistan, Obama says | US to keep most troops in Afghanistan, Obama says |
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. | 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. |
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. | 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. |
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. | 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. | "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. | 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. | 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. | "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. | 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. | 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. | "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. | Other trapped students and staff tweeted or posted on Facebook their desperate pleas for help. |
The attack comes two weeks after two university staff - one American, one Australian - were kidnapped by unknown gunmen. Their whereabouts remain unknown. | The attack comes two weeks after two university staff - one American, one Australian - were kidnapped by unknown gunmen. Their whereabouts remain unknown. |
The American university, which first opened its doors to students in 2005, is a non-profit private university chartered in the US. | The American 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. | 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. | About 1,700 students are enrolled; many are adults who study part-time and also have jobs. |