This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/24/explosion-attack-save-the-children-office-jalalabad-afghanistan

The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Afghanistan: gunmen storm Save the Children office in Jalalabad Afghanistan: attack on Save the Children office in Jalalabad
(34 minutes later)
At least one dead and 14 injured, officials say, in latest attack targeting foreign charityAt least one dead and 14 injured, officials say, in latest attack targeting foreign charity
Michael SafiMichael Safi
Wed 24 Jan 2018 07.16 GMT Wed 24 Jan 2018 09.50 GMT
First published on Wed 24 Jan 2018 05.20 GMTFirst published on Wed 24 Jan 2018 05.20 GMT
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
View more sharing optionsView more sharing options
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on Google+Share on Google+
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
CloseClose
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. Four gunmen have stormed the Save the Children office in Jalalabad, killing at least one person and wounding 14 in the latest attack on a foreign charity in Afghanistan.
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. The attackers detonated a car bomb outside the office at about 9am on Wednesday before using rocket-propelled grenades to blast their way inside.
Afghan security forces swarmed the area and brought the assault to an end after more than three hours, provincial government spokesman Attaullah Khogyani said. Afghan security forces swarmed the area and brought the assault to an end after more than three hours, a provincial government spokesman said.
“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.” “The fighting has ended,” Attaullah Khogyani 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.”
He said initial information suggested the attack had been wearing military uniforms. Local media also reported one Afghan soldier died in the fighting. He said initial information suggested the attackers had been wearing military uniforms. Local media reported that one Afghan soldier had died in the fighting.
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. 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 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
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 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.
“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 AFP from his hospital bed that he heard “a big blast”. 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. 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,” Amin said. “I jumped out of the window.”
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.” 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.”
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. The Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Twitter that his group had no involvement.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Twitter the militant group had no involvement in the incident.
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.
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 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, is the latest violence to strike a foreign aid group 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 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 Red Cross, which has been working in Afghanistan for more than 30 years, underlined the growing dangers for aid workers, who have become casualties of an increase in militant violence in recent years.
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 Wednesday’s incident was an outrage. “Any attack on children amd 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.” 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 IS fighters in Nangarhar. 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.
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 KabulAgence France-Presse and Bilal Sarwary contributed to this report from Kabul
AfghanistanAfghanistan
South and Central AsiaSouth and Central Asia
Charities
Aid
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on Google+Share on Google+
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content