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| Isis claims attack on Save the Children office in Jalalabad | Isis claims attack on Save the Children office in Jalalabad |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| At least five people killed in attack that began with suicide car bomb outside building in Afghan city | At least five people killed in attack that began with suicide car bomb outside building in Afghan city |
| Michael Safi | Michael Safi |
| Wed 24 Jan 2018 11.34 GMT | Wed 24 Jan 2018 11.34 GMT |
| First published on Wed 24 Jan 2018 05.20 GMT | First published on Wed 24 Jan 2018 05.20 GMT |
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| Gunmen stormed the offices of Save the Children in Jalalabad on Wednesday, killing at least five people and wounding 27 in an attack claimed by Islamic State. | |
| The attack is the latest assault on a foreign charity in Afghanistan, and underlines the growing dangers for aid workers, who have become casualties of an increase in militant violence in recent years. | |
| The assault began just after 9am when a suicide car bomb was detonated outside the office. The attackers then used rocket-propelled grenades to blast their way inside. | |
| Afghan security forces fought the gunmen for nearly 10 hours, at one stage rescuing nearly 50 people from the basement of the building as fighting continued on the floors above, a member of the Ningarhar provincial goverment, Sohrab Qaderi, told the Guardian. | Afghan security forces fought the gunmen for nearly 10 hours, at one stage rescuing nearly 50 people from the basement of the building as fighting continued on the floors above, a member of the Ningarhar provincial goverment, Sohrab Qaderi, told the Guardian. |
| Army officials said at least five people were killed including two soldiers, two guards working for Save the Children, and one other civilian. Another 27 were wounded, including nine Afghan security service members. | Army officials said at least five people were killed including two soldiers, two guards working for Save the Children, and one other civilian. Another 27 were wounded, including nine Afghan security service members. |
| The incident was claimed by Isis, which has established a foothold in eastern Nangarhar province, of which Jalalabad is the capital. The group said in a statement it was targeting British and Swedish groups in the region. | The incident was claimed by Isis, which has established a foothold in eastern Nangarhar province, of which Jalalabad is the capital. The group said in a statement it was targeting British and Swedish groups in the region. |
| At least three heavily armed insurgents are thought to have been involved in the attack. Initial information suggested the men were wearing military uniforms, said Attaullah Khogyani, a provincial government spokesman. | At least three heavily armed insurgents are thought to have been involved in the attack. Initial information suggested the men were wearing military uniforms, said Attaullah Khogyani, a provincial government spokesman. |
| Television footage and video shot by onlookers during the attack showed thick smoke billowing from a burning car outside the complex and a fire burning on at least one floor of the building. | Television footage and video shot by onlookers during the attack showed thick smoke billowing from a burning car outside the complex and a fire burning on at least one floor of the building. |
| #JalalabadAttack: still sporadic gun-fire is exchanging b/w ANDSF and attackers, pic.twitter.com/fesAUPy4PY | #JalalabadAttack: still sporadic gun-fire is exchanging b/w ANDSF and attackers, pic.twitter.com/fesAUPy4PY |
| Zabiullah, a Save the Children employee who uses one name, said he heard “a very big explosion” and saw gunmen rushing into the office. “The attackers just opened the doors and threw grenades then opened fire,” he told the Guardian. | Zabiullah, a Save the Children employee who uses one name, said he heard “a very big explosion” and saw gunmen rushing into the office. “The attackers just opened the doors and threw grenades then opened fire,” he told the Guardian. |
| “When me and my friends saw the situation we rushed the basement. I saw six of my colleagues who were wounded. We were terrified and locked the door.” | “When me and my friends saw the situation we rushed the basement. I saw six of my colleagues who were wounded. We were terrified and locked the door.” |
| He said as far as he knew all the Save the Children employees in the office were Afghans. A statement from the charity said: “We are devastated at the news that our Save the Children office in Jalalabad city, Afghanistan, came under attack this morning as armed men entered the building. | He said as far as he knew all the Save the Children employees in the office were Afghans. A statement from the charity said: “We are devastated at the news that our Save the Children office in Jalalabad city, Afghanistan, came under attack this morning as armed men entered the building. |
| “Our primary concern is for the safety and security of our staff. We are awaiting further information from our team and cannot comment further at this time.” | “Our primary concern is for the safety and security of our staff. We are awaiting further information from our team and cannot comment further at this time.” |
| All Save the Children programmes across Afghanistan were temporarily suspended and offices shut. “We remain committed to resuming our operations and lifesaving work as quickly as possible, as soon as we can be assured that it is safe to do so,” the statement said. | All Save the Children programmes across Afghanistan were temporarily suspended and offices shut. “We remain committed to resuming our operations and lifesaving work as quickly as possible, as soon as we can be assured that it is safe to do so,” the statement said. |
| Mohammad Amin, who was in the compound at the time, told AFP from his hospital bed that he heard “a big blast”. “We ran for cover and I saw a gunman hitting the main gate with an RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) to enter the compound,” Amin said. “I jumped out of the window.” | Mohammad Amin, who was in the compound at the time, told AFP from his hospital bed that he heard “a big blast”. “We ran for cover and I saw a gunman hitting the main gate with an RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) to enter the compound,” Amin said. “I jumped out of the window.” |
| Worried relatives gathered at the scene during the gun battle between the militants and security forces. “I am here because my son is stuck inside,” said one onlooker, Khan Jan. “I am worried for him. I haven’t been able to get in touch with him. He switched [off] his phone.” | Worried relatives gathered at the scene during the gun battle between the militants and security forces. “I am here because my son is stuck inside,” said one onlooker, Khan Jan. “I am worried for him. I haven’t been able to get in touch with him. He switched [off] his phone.” |
| A Taliban spokesman said his group was not involved in the attack. At the weekend Taliban gunmen raided a luxury hotel in Kabul, killing at least 22 people, mostly foreigners. | A Taliban spokesman said his group was not involved in the attack. At the weekend Taliban gunmen raided a luxury hotel in Kabul, killing at least 22 people, mostly foreigners. |
| The UN’s mission in Afghanistan tweeted that it was looking into reports of Wednesday’s violence. “Attacks directed at civilians or aid organisations are clear violations of international humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes,” it said. | The UN’s mission in Afghanistan tweeted that it was looking into reports of Wednesday’s violence. “Attacks directed at civilians or aid organisations are clear violations of international humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes,” it said. |
| The assault on Save the Children, which has operated in Afghanistan since 1976, follows an ambush of International Committee of the Red Cross workers last year; seven employees were killed in that attack, and the charity said in October it would “drastically” reduce its presence in the country. | The assault on Save the Children, which has operated in Afghanistan since 1976, follows an ambush of International Committee of the Red Cross workers last year; seven employees were killed in that attack, and the charity said in October it would “drastically” reduce its presence in the country. |
| The decision by the Red Cross, which has been working in Afghanistan for more than 30 years, highlighted the growing dangers facing aid workers. | |
| The UK ambassador to Afghanistan, Nick Kay, said Wednesday’s incident was an outrage. “Any attack on children and humanitarians is a crime against humanity,” he said on Twitter. “I hope for a quick and safe end to this horrific incident in Jalalabad.” | The UK ambassador to Afghanistan, Nick Kay, said Wednesday’s incident was an outrage. “Any attack on children and humanitarians is a crime against humanity,” he said on Twitter. “I hope for a quick and safe end to this horrific incident in Jalalabad.” |
| US and Afghan forces have been carrying out ground and air operations against Isis fighters in Nangarhar. While Afghan security forces are conducting most of the fighting against Isis and Taliban militants, US troops operate alongside them in a training capacity and are frequently on the frontline. | US and Afghan forces have been carrying out ground and air operations against Isis fighters in Nangarhar. While Afghan security forces are conducting most of the fighting against Isis and Taliban militants, US troops operate alongside them in a training capacity and are frequently on the frontline. |
| The last major attack in Jalalabad was on 31 December, when an explosion at a funeral killed 18 mourners and wounded 13. There was no claim of responsibility. | The last major attack in Jalalabad was on 31 December, when an explosion at a funeral killed 18 mourners and wounded 13. There was no claim of responsibility. |
| Last April the US detonated the largest conventional bomb it has ever used in combat against Isis fighters in the Achin district of Nangarhar province. The Afghan government claimed the “mother of all bombs” had killed 90 militants. | Last April the US detonated the largest conventional bomb it has ever used in combat against Isis fighters in the Achin district of Nangarhar province. The Afghan government claimed the “mother of all bombs” had killed 90 militants. |
| Agencies and Bilal Sarwary contributed to this report from Kabul. Akhtar Mohammad Makoii reported from Herat. | Agencies and Bilal Sarwary contributed to this report from Kabul. Akhtar Mohammad Makoii reported from Herat. |
| Afghanistan | Afghanistan |
| South and Central Asia | South and Central Asia |
| Charities | Charities |
| Aid | Aid |
| Islamic State | Islamic State |
| news | news |
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