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Save the Children offices attacked in Jalalabad, Afghanistan | Save the Children offices attacked in Jalalabad, Afghanistan |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Attackers have detonated explosives before storming the offices of the Save the Children charity in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad. | Attackers have detonated explosives before storming the offices of the Save the Children charity in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad. |
At least two people have been killed and 12 injured, officials say. It is believed about 50 staff were in the building at the time. | At least two people have been killed and 12 injured, officials say. It is believed about 50 staff were in the building at the time. |
The Islamic State group has said three of its fighters are behind the attack, which is said to have now ended. | |
Save the Children has temporarily suspended all of its Afghan programmes. | Save the Children has temporarily suspended all of its Afghan programmes. |
What's the latest? | What's the latest? |
The attack started at about 09:10 local time (04:40 GMT) on Wednesday when a suicide bomber detonated a vehicle explosive at the entrance to the Save the Children compound, Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the governor of Nangarhar province, told the BBC. | The attack started at about 09:10 local time (04:40 GMT) on Wednesday when a suicide bomber detonated a vehicle explosive at the entrance to the Save the Children compound, Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the governor of Nangarhar province, 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). |
Afghan commandos joined police to try to end the attack. | |
About 45 people were reported to have been rescued from the basement, as fighting continued on the upper floors. | |
Earlier, one WhatsApp message, reported by AFP to be from an employee, had read: "I can hear two attackers... They are looking for us. Pray for us... Inform the security forces." | Earlier, one WhatsApp message, reported by AFP to be from an employee, had read: "I can hear two attackers... They are looking for us. Pray for us... Inform the security forces." |
There are several other aid agencies in the area, along with government offices. | There are several other aid agencies in the area, along with government offices. |
Who is responsible? | Who is responsible? |
The Islamic State group said in a message on its news outlet Amaq that three attackers and an explosives-laden car had targeted "British, Swedish and Afghan institutions in Jalalabad". | The Islamic State group said in a message on its news outlet Amaq that three attackers and an explosives-laden car had targeted "British, Swedish and Afghan institutions in Jalalabad". |
The city has been a stronghold for IS, whose fighters have been active there since 2015. | The city has been a stronghold for IS, whose fighters have been active there since 2015. |
The Taliban had earlier denied carrying out the attack. | The Taliban had earlier denied carrying out the attack. |
Their fighters had been behind the storming of a luxury hotel in Kabul at the weekend that killed at least 22 people, mostly foreigners. | Their fighters had been behind the storming of a luxury hotel in Kabul at the weekend that killed at least 22 people, mostly foreigners. |
What has Save the Children said? | What has Save the Children said? |
A statement from Save the Children said the group was "devastated" at the news of the attack, confirmed the incident was ongoing and added: "Our primary concern is for the safety and security of our staff." | A statement from Save the Children said the group was "devastated" at the news of the attack, confirmed the incident was ongoing and added: "Our primary concern is for the safety and security of our staff." |
It continued: "All of our programmes across Afghanistan have been temporarily suspended and our offices are closed." | It continued: "All of our programmes across Afghanistan have been temporarily suspended and our offices are closed." |
But it said it remained "committed to resuming our operations and lifesaving work as quickly as possible". | But it said it remained "committed to resuming our operations and lifesaving work as quickly as possible". |
The UN's mission in Afghanistan said: "Attacks directed at civilians or aid organisations are clear violations of international humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes." | The UN's mission in Afghanistan said: "Attacks directed at civilians or aid organisations are clear violations of international humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes." |
UK Secretary of State for International Development Penny Mordaunt condemned the attack in a departmental tweet. | UK Secretary of State for International Development Penny Mordaunt condemned the attack in a departmental tweet. |
What is Save the Children's Afghan work? | What is Save the Children's Afghan work? |
The charity has been working in Afghanistan since 1976. It currently runs programmes across 16 provinces in Afghanistan. | The charity has been working in Afghanistan since 1976. It currently runs programmes across 16 provinces in Afghanistan. |
According to the aid agency, more than 700,000 children in Afghanistan have been reached over the years through its efforts. | According to the aid agency, more than 700,000 children in Afghanistan have been reached over the years through its efforts. |
The organisation says it aims to provide better access to education, healthcare and essential supplies to children across the globe. | The organisation says it aims to provide better access to education, healthcare and essential supplies to children across the globe. |
Are charity groups targeted in Afghanistan? | Are charity groups targeted in Afghanistan? |
They continue to work under tough conditions in the country, facing regular attacks and kidnappings. | They continue to work under tough conditions in the country, facing regular attacks and kidnappings. |
The Red Cross announced in October that it was drastically reducing its presence in Afghanistan after seven of its staff were killed in attacks in 2017. | The Red Cross announced in October that it was drastically reducing its presence in Afghanistan after seven of its staff were killed in attacks in 2017. |
Attacks over the years include: | Attacks over the years include: |
Additionally, the US bombing of a Médecins Sans Frontières hospital in Kunduz in October 2015 killed 22 people. | Additionally, the US bombing of a Médecins Sans Frontières hospital in Kunduz in October 2015 killed 22 people. |