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| 3 Americans killed in attack on Kabul hospital | 3 Americans killed in attack on Kabul hospital |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| KABUL — Three Americans were killed Thursday when an Afghan security official opened fire at an American-run Christian hospital in Kabul in the latest violence targeting foreigners in Afghanistan. | |
| The attack, which also wounded several people, took place about 9 a.m. as doctors and nurses were arriving at the Cure Hospital, which is part of an international network of hospitals run by a Pennsylvania-based charity. The hospital largely focuses on providing medical care to needy children. | The attack, which also wounded several people, took place about 9 a.m. as doctors and nurses were arriving at the Cure Hospital, which is part of an international network of hospitals run by a Pennsylvania-based charity. The hospital largely focuses on providing medical care to needy children. |
| In a statement, the U.S. Embassy in Kabul said: “With great sadness we confirm that three Americans were killed in the attack on CURE Hospital. No other information will be released at this time.” | In a statement, the U.S. Embassy in Kabul said: “With great sadness we confirm that three Americans were killed in the attack on CURE Hospital. No other information will be released at this time.” |
| One of the dead Americans was identified as Jerry Umanos of Chicago, a Cure International pediatrician of Filipino descent who had worked in Kabul for years and had previously practiced medicine in inner-city Chicago. Afghan Health Minister Soraya Dalil said the two others were a father and son who went to the hospital to meet Umanos. | One of the dead Americans was identified as Jerry Umanos of Chicago, a Cure International pediatrician of Filipino descent who had worked in Kabul for years and had previously practiced medicine in inner-city Chicago. Afghan Health Minister Soraya Dalil said the two others were a father and son who went to the hospital to meet Umanos. |
| Dalil said an American nurse was also wounded in the attack. | Dalil said an American nurse was also wounded in the attack. |
| Sediq Seddiqi, a spokesman for the Afghan Interior Ministry, said the gunman was an Afghan police officer, although other officials described him as a hospital guard. The gunman, who unsuccessfully tried to commit suicide after the shooting, has been arrested, Seddiqi said. | Sediq Seddiqi, a spokesman for the Afghan Interior Ministry, said the gunman was an Afghan police officer, although other officials described him as a hospital guard. The gunman, who unsuccessfully tried to commit suicide after the shooting, has been arrested, Seddiqi said. |
| Umanos was at the hospital gate greeting the two American visitors when the officer suddenly walked up to them and opened fire, killing them, the Health Ministry said. Two others were wounded, according to Cure International. | Umanos was at the hospital gate greeting the two American visitors when the officer suddenly walked up to them and opened fire, killing them, the Health Ministry said. Two others were wounded, according to Cure International. |
| The gunman then shot himself but survived and was quickly restrained. He was then taken inside the hospital, where he was treated, along with his victims. | The gunman then shot himself but survived and was quickly restrained. He was then taken inside the hospital, where he was treated, along with his victims. |
| He “has now been transferred out of our facility into the custody of the government of Afghanistan,” Cure said in a statement. It said the gunman was part of a security detail “assigned to the hospital” and was not a member of the hospital staff. | He “has now been transferred out of our facility into the custody of the government of Afghanistan,” Cure said in a statement. It said the gunman was part of a security detail “assigned to the hospital” and was not a member of the hospital staff. |
| Afghan officials described the two visitors as medical professionals. Cure International said Umanos was the only one of the three who was a member of the Kabul hospital’s staff. | |
| Cure International first began working in Afghanistan in 2002 and opened the hospital in Kabul in 2005 at the request of the Afghan government. It primarily focuses on maternity and pediatric care, officials said. | Cure International first began working in Afghanistan in 2002 and opened the hospital in Kabul in 2005 at the request of the Afghan government. It primarily focuses on maternity and pediatric care, officials said. |
| Despite the violence, Cure International said it will continue its work in Afghanistan. | Despite the violence, Cure International said it will continue its work in Afghanistan. |
| “Cure International remains committed to serving the Afghan people,” the organization said. | “Cure International remains committed to serving the Afghan people,” the organization said. |
| Umanos had been working in Afghanistan for the past 10 years, said a spokeswoman for Lawndale Christian Health Center in Chicago. | Umanos had been working in Afghanistan for the past 10 years, said a spokeswoman for Lawndale Christian Health Center in Chicago. |
| In a televised news conference, several hospital doctors and administrators at the hospital said they were shocked by his killing. | In a televised news conference, several hospital doctors and administrators at the hospital said they were shocked by his killing. |
| “This loss is a great loss for his family, for those of us he worked with, as well as for the people of Afghanistan,” said Bruce Rowell, a pediatrician at Lawndale. “He was a loving, caring physician who served all of his patients with the utmost respect.” | “This loss is a great loss for his family, for those of us he worked with, as well as for the people of Afghanistan,” said Bruce Rowell, a pediatrician at Lawndale. “He was a loving, caring physician who served all of his patients with the utmost respect.” |
| Abdul Zahir, Kabul’s police chief, said investigators “are trying to determine the cause of this attack.” | Abdul Zahir, Kabul’s police chief, said investigators “are trying to determine the cause of this attack.” |
| The White House condemned the killings, noting that the three Americans were “working to provide health care to Afghans.” | The White House condemned the killings, noting that the three Americans were “working to provide health care to Afghans.” |
| Caitlin Hayden, a spokeswoman for the National Security Council, said in a statement: “Any such attack on civilians at a hospital is despicable and cowardly. . . . The United States continues to strongly support those in Afghanistan who abhor this violence and are working to build a peaceful, prosperous future for themselves. We remain proud of all Americans serving in Afghanistan, working shoulder-to-shoulder with Afghan partners toward our shared goal of a sovereign, stable, secure, and democratic Afghanistan.” | Caitlin Hayden, a spokeswoman for the National Security Council, said in a statement: “Any such attack on civilians at a hospital is despicable and cowardly. . . . The United States continues to strongly support those in Afghanistan who abhor this violence and are working to build a peaceful, prosperous future for themselves. We remain proud of all Americans serving in Afghanistan, working shoulder-to-shoulder with Afghan partners toward our shared goal of a sovereign, stable, secure, and democratic Afghanistan.” |
| In addition to his work with Cure, Umanos had been the community health coordinator for Empowerment Health, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the health of Afghan women and children. Umanos had helped form the group’s community health programs and had led research efforts. | |
| Umanos had worked for years to develop training programs to give Afghan women better health education and skills, according to Evan A. Russell, co-founder of Empowerment Health. | |
| “Our efforts in the community will continue on, and we remain deeply committed to the mission to which he devoted his life, but Jerry’s daily impact on this program, and on so many other people, will be missed forever,” Russell said in an e-mail to The Washington Post. | |
| The attack comes as foreigners in Afghanistan face heightened concern about their safety amid a wave of brazen violence. | The attack comes as foreigners in Afghanistan face heightened concern about their safety amid a wave of brazen violence. |
| Over the past three months, as Afghanistan is in the midst of electing a new president, 20 foreigners have been killed in separate attacks targeting civilians. The attacks have occurred at a popular restaurant, an upscale hotel and other venues where foreigners congregate. | Over the past three months, as Afghanistan is in the midst of electing a new president, 20 foreigners have been killed in separate attacks targeting civilians. The attacks have occurred at a popular restaurant, an upscale hotel and other venues where foreigners congregate. |
| The Taliban has claimed responsibility for much of the violence, including a March 20 assault on the Serena Hotel in Kabul that killed nine people, including two Canadians. | The Taliban has claimed responsibility for much of the violence, including a March 20 assault on the Serena Hotel in Kabul that killed nine people, including two Canadians. |
| The violence is accelerating the pace at which foreigners are fleeing Kabul, a city that until recently has provided relative security for aid workers, journalists and civilian contractors. | The violence is accelerating the pace at which foreigners are fleeing Kabul, a city that until recently has provided relative security for aid workers, journalists and civilian contractors. |
| With Thursday’s shooting, the dangers facing foreigners are heightened by what appear to be increasing random attacks by Afghan security officials. For years, the U.S.-led coalition has struggled to combat so-called “green-on-blue” attacks in which Afghan soldiers have turned their weapons on NATO troops who were training or supervising them. | With Thursday’s shooting, the dangers facing foreigners are heightened by what appear to be increasing random attacks by Afghan security officials. For years, the U.S.-led coalition has struggled to combat so-called “green-on-blue” attacks in which Afghan soldiers have turned their weapons on NATO troops who were training or supervising them. |
| Now, however, civilians are also vulnerable to such attacks. | Now, however, civilians are also vulnerable to such attacks. |
| Three weeks ago, an Afghan police officer shouted “Allahu akbar” (God is great) before shooting an Associated Press photographer and reporter who were sitting in a vehicle in Khost province in eastern Afghanistan. The photographer, Anja Niedringhaus, a German citizen, was killed. The reporter, Kathy Gannon, a Canadian, was seriously wounded. | Three weeks ago, an Afghan police officer shouted “Allahu akbar” (God is great) before shooting an Associated Press photographer and reporter who were sitting in a vehicle in Khost province in eastern Afghanistan. The photographer, Anja Niedringhaus, a German citizen, was killed. The reporter, Kathy Gannon, a Canadian, was seriously wounded. |
| That attack occurred one month after Swedish journalist Nils Horner was shot and killed in a brazen midday attack in Kabul. Horner, who was based in Hong Kong and had just arrived in Kabul to cover the run-up to the April 5 Afghan elections, was shot by several men as he walked down a street near a heavily fortified diplomatic compound. | That attack occurred one month after Swedish journalist Nils Horner was shot and killed in a brazen midday attack in Kabul. Horner, who was based in Hong Kong and had just arrived in Kabul to cover the run-up to the April 5 Afghan elections, was shot by several men as he walked down a street near a heavily fortified diplomatic compound. |
| Javid Kohestani, a retired Afghan army general and Kabul-based security analyst, said Taliban fighters and their sympathizers appear to be stepping up their attacks on civilians as military targets become harder to find due to the ongoing withdrawal of most remaining coalition forces. | Javid Kohestani, a retired Afghan army general and Kabul-based security analyst, said Taliban fighters and their sympathizers appear to be stepping up their attacks on civilians as military targets become harder to find due to the ongoing withdrawal of most remaining coalition forces. |
| They want “to frighten foreigners and disrupt their reconstruction and development work,” Kohestani said. “Their initial targets now seem to be Americans and Europeans, but they may also target Muslim foreigners to show that security is getting worse.” | They want “to frighten foreigners and disrupt their reconstruction and development work,” Kohestani said. “Their initial targets now seem to be Americans and Europeans, but they may also target Muslim foreigners to show that security is getting worse.” |
| Cure hospitals were founded in 1996 by Scott Harrison and his wife, Sally Harrison, to help children with disabilities. The motto of the organization, based in central Pennsylvania, is delivering “life-changing medical care and the good news of God’s love to children and families with treatable conditions.” | Cure hospitals were founded in 1996 by Scott Harrison and his wife, Sally Harrison, to help children with disabilities. The motto of the organization, based in central Pennsylvania, is delivering “life-changing medical care and the good news of God’s love to children and families with treatable conditions.” |
| It operates hospitals in Afghanistan, the Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Niger, the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Over the years, the organization has provided more than 150,000 life-saving surgeries, according to its Web site. | It operates hospitals in Afghanistan, the Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Niger, the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Over the years, the organization has provided more than 150,000 life-saving surgeries, according to its Web site. |
| The hospital in Kabul opened in 2005 and has a staff of 27 doctors and 64 nurses. It treats 37,000 patients annually. | The hospital in Kabul opened in 2005 and has a staff of 27 doctors and 64 nurses. It treats 37,000 patients annually. |
| Though the motives of the gunman remain unknown, the incident marks the second time in less than a month that a Christian charity has come under attack in Kabul. | Though the motives of the gunman remain unknown, the incident marks the second time in less than a month that a Christian charity has come under attack in Kabul. |
| In late March, the Taliban unsuccessfully tried to storm a heavily guarded guesthouse for employees of the Roots of Peace, a San Francisco-based organization that focuses on agricultural projects. | In late March, the Taliban unsuccessfully tried to storm a heavily guarded guesthouse for employees of the Roots of Peace, a San Francisco-based organization that focuses on agricultural projects. |
| That guesthouse was located next to a Christian charity and day-care center, which may have been the intended target of that attack. | That guesthouse was located next to a Christian charity and day-care center, which may have been the intended target of that attack. |
| In January, three Americans died when Taliban fighters stormed a popular Lebanese restaurant in Kabul, killing a total of 21 people who were seated for dinner. | In January, three Americans died when Taliban fighters stormed a popular Lebanese restaurant in Kabul, killing a total of 21 people who were seated for dinner. |
| Sayed Salahuddin in Kabul and William Branigin and Mark Berman in Washington contributed to this report. |