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Afghanistan: car bomb explodes outside Save the Children office in Jalalabad Afghanistan: gunmen storm Save the Children office in Jalalabad
(about 2 hours later)
Government spokesman says attackers have entered the aid agency and 11 people have been injured At least one dead and 14 injured, officials say, in latest attack targeting foreign charity
Michael SafiMichael Safi
Wed 24 Jan 2018 07.16 GMTWed 24 Jan 2018 07.16 GMT
First published on Wed 24 Jan 2018 05.20 GMTFirst published on Wed 24 Jan 2018 05.20 GMT
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Attackers have entered the Save the Children office in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad after a car bomb exploded outside. Four gunmen have stormed the Save the Children office in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad, killing at least one person and wounding 14 others in the latest attack on a foreign charity in the country.
Provincial government spokesman Attaullah Khogyani said the aid agency was targeted early on Wednesday morning. The attackers detonated a car bomb outside the office of the charity at about 9am on Wednesday morning before using rocket-propelled grenades to blast their way inside building.
“At around 9:10am a suicide attacker detonated a car bomb at the entrance of Save the Children’s compound in police district three of Jalalabad city,” he said. “A group of armed men then entered the compound.” Afghan security forces swarmed the area and brought the assault to an end after more than three hours, provincial government spokesman Attaullah Khogyani said.
A spokesman for the Ningarhar province health department, Inamullah Miakhel, said hospitals were treating at least 12 people for injuries, none of them life- threatening. “The fighting has ended,” he told Agence France-Presse. “The security forces are clearing the building now. Our initial information shows so far, one dead and 14 wounded have been brought to hospitals.”
Clashes were continuing at the scene on Wednesday morning and television footage showed smoke billowing from a vehicle and sporadic gunfire. He said initial information suggested the attack had been wearing military uniforms. Local media also reported one Afghan soldier died in the fighting.
Sohrab Qaderi a provincial council member for Ningarhar, said Afghan special forces were battling two or three attackers armed with hand-grenades, machine-guns and rocket-propelled grenades. Television footage and video shot by onlookers showed thick smoke billowing from a burning car outside the complex and fire burning on an least one floor.
#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
He said the militants had taken up positions on the upper floors of the building, which is surrounded by homes, two schools and a government department. It was not known whether the dead civilian was employed by Save the Children. A statement from the aid agency 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, about 9am today local time.
It was not known if any Save the Children staff remained in the building. A statement from the aid agency 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, about 9am today local 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.”“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.”
Mohammad Amin, who was inside the compound when the attackers stormed inside, told Agence France-Presse from his hospital bed that he heard “a big blast”. Mohammad Amin, who was inside the compound when the attackers stormed inside, 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. I jumped out of the window,” Amin said.“We ran for cover and I saw a gunman hitting the main gate with an RPG (rocket propelled grenade) to enter the compound. I jumped out of the window,” Amin said.
Worried relatives have gathered at the scene of the attack. “I am here because my son is stuck inside,” said 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 had 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.”
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but eastern Nangarhar province has been a stronghold for Islamic State’s affiliate in Afghanistan.No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but eastern Nangarhar province has been a stronghold for Islamic State’s affiliate in Afghanistan.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Twitter the militant group had no involvement in the incident.Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Twitter the militant group had no involvement in the incident.
#ClarificationThe ongoing attack in #Jalalabad has nothing to do with the Mujahidin of Islamic Emirate.
Jalalabad is the capital of Nangarhar province, on the border with Pakistan.Jalalabad is the capital of Nangarhar province, on the border with Pakistan.
The attack comes days after Taliban gunmen raided a luxury hotel in Kabul, killing at least 22 people, mostly foreigners.The attack comes days after Taliban gunmen raided a luxury hotel in Kabul, killing at least 22 people, mostly foreigners.
#Nangarhar – gunshots ring out as clashes continue between insurgents and security forces after militants launched an attack on the #SaveTheChildren organization in #Jalalabad city #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/sqCYDbmHEg The UN’s mission in Afghanistan tweeted that it was looking into reports of the attack. “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, is the latest violence to strike a foreign aid group in the country.
The International Committee of the Red Cross announced in October it would “drastically” reduce its presence in the country after seven employees were killed in attacks last year.
The decision by the charity, which has been working in Afghanistan for over three decades, underlined the growing dangers for aid workers, who have increasingly become casualties of a surge in militant violence in recent years.
The UK ambassador to Afghanistan, Nick Kay, said the incident was an outrage. “Any attack on children & 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 the incident was an outrage. “Any attack on children & humanitarians is a crime against humanity,” he said on Twitter. “I hope for a quick and safe end to this horrific incident in Jalalabad.”
Bilal Sarwary contributed to this report from Kabul US and Afghan forces have been carrying out ground and air operations against IS fighters in Nangarhar.
While Afghan security forces are conducting most of the fighting against IS and Taliban militants, US troops operate alongside them in a training capacity and are frequently on the front lines.
The last major attack in Jalalabad was on December 31 when an explosion at a funeral killed 18 mourners and wounded another 13. There was no claim of responsibility.
Agence France-Presse and Bilal Sarwary contributed to this report from Kabul
AfghanistanAfghanistan
South and Central AsiaSouth and Central Asia
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