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Save the Children office in Afghanistan hit by attack | Save the Children office in Afghanistan hit by attack |
(35 minutes later) | |
At least 11 people have been injured in an ongoing attack on the offices of international aid agency Save the Children in Afghanistan. | At least 11 people have been injured in an ongoing attack on the offices of international aid agency Save the Children in Afghanistan. |
An explosion took place outside the organisation's compound in Jalalabad, authorities said. Gunmen then entered the building. | An explosion took place outside the organisation's compound in Jalalabad, authorities said. Gunmen then entered the building. |
Local media have reported children at a nearby school were seen running from the area as gunfire was heard. | Local media have reported children at a nearby school were seen running from the area as gunfire was heard. |
No group has said they carried out the attack. | |
But Jalalabad, near the border with Pakistan, is often targeted by Taliban militants and is a stronghold for Islamic State, with fighters active there since 2015. | |
The latest attack comes days after Taliban gunmen stormed a luxury hotel in Kabul killing at least 22 people, mostly foreigners. | |
At about 09:10 local time (04:40 GMT) on Wednesday, a suicide attacker detonated a car bomb at the entrance to the Save the Children compound, Ataullah Khogyani, a provincial government spokesperson told the BBC. | |
An eyewitness who was inside the compound at the time told AFP news agency that he saw a gunman hitting the main gate with a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG). | An eyewitness who was inside the compound at the time told AFP news agency that he saw a gunman hitting the main gate with a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG). |
Local TV footage showed a huge plume of thick black smoke rising from the compound and at least one vehicle on fire. | Local TV footage showed a huge plume of thick black smoke rising from the compound and at least one vehicle on fire. |
A group of armed men then entered the compound, and clashes between the attackers and security forces are still ongoing, Mr Khogyani said. | |
Save the Children carries out education, healthcare and protection work for Children in Afghanistan. | Save the Children carries out education, healthcare and protection work for Children in Afghanistan. |