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Nov 2, 2020 SHARE 22 students and professors killed, 22 others injured in attack on Kabul University Wounded victims remained inside campus while security forces killed attackers
Security personnel stand guard outside of the Kabul University in Kabul. Gunmen stormed Kabul university ahead of the opening of an Iranian book fair. AFP
Twenty-two students and professors were killed and 22 others were wounded during an armed attack on Kabul University’s campus after three gunmen stormed the building in the Afghan capital on Monday morning, the Afghan government and a security official said.
An Afghan soldier on the scene also told The National that while the campus had been evacuated, many of those wounded remained inside as police faced off with assailants and eventually killed them all, ending the confrontation. Blasts continued to be heard sporadically as attackers and security forces faced off for over five hours.
Students posted accounts of the attack on social media as police surrounded the sprawling campus.
“Please God give me patience. My classmates died or were injured before my eyes,” one of the students posted on his Facebook page. “We have also been taken as hostages. No security has arrived.”
The Interior Ministry said an explosion preceded the first round of shots fired.
Kabul University had been receiving threats for nearly three years, the injured professor told The National on condition of anonymity.
“About three years ago, we were told to be very cautious because the Taliban were trying to attack the university,” he said.
The university buildings are fitted with heavy metal doors and windows for such situations and staff and students had been locked in by security forces, said the professor who has been teaching at the university for five years.
However, witnesses reported that the assailants managed to enter the law faculty building.
In a Tweet, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the group was not behind the university attack.
Video posted on Twitter by the Afghanistan’s largest broadcaster, Tolo news, showed students fleeing as gunshots are heard in the background.
“When we heard the attack, everyone panicked and started running around because no one knew what to do,” law student Mohammad Wasel told The National.
“A few of us jumped the university walls near our building and escaped to safety.”
Tolo quoted sources saying the attack began as Afghan and Iranian officials were inaugurating a book exhibition at the university.
“We strongly condemn today’s terrorist attack on Kabul University. We fully believe in the strength of our security forces in eliminating the terrorists as soon as possible. After their disgraceful defeat of terrorists in Helmand, these groups are now targeting academic institute,” President Ashraf Ghani spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said.
Kabul was targeted in another attack earlier on Monday. A bomb blast in the Khwaja Sabz Posh district wounded a member of the security forces and a civilian. Kabul police said the Posh district explosion was caused by a magnetic roadside bomb that detonated at about 7.35am.
Universities in Kabul often the subject of militant attacks. Last year, a bomb outside of the Kabul University campus gates killed eight people. In 2016, gunmen attacked the American University in Kabul, killing 13.
Ali Doosti, a student who escaped Monday’s Kabul attack told The National: “The recent attacks show that the enemies of Afghanistan see educated Afghans as targets. They are doing everything in their power to stop our education. When I heard the gunshots today, I thought that these people are against my education.”
Mr Doosti said the incident motivated him to “fight back” by completing his education.
“This is the only way we can secure our future and our future of our country,” he said.
Last month, ISIS sent a suicide bomber into an education centre in the capital’s predominantly Shiite neighbourhood of Dasht-e-Barchi, killing 24 students.
Source:thenationalnews.com/world
Nov 2, 2020 SHARE 22 students and professors killed, 22 others injured in attack on Kabul University Wounded victims remained inside campus while security forces killed attackers
Security personnel stand guard outside of the Kabul University in Kabul. Gunmen stormed Kabul university ahead of the opening of an Iranian book fair. AFP
Twenty-two students and professors were killed and 22 others were wounded during an armed attack on Kabul University’s campus after three gunmen stormed the building in the Afghan capital on Monday morning, the Afghan government and a security official said.
An Afghan soldier on the scene also told The National that while the campus had been evacuated, many of those wounded remained inside as police faced off with assailants and eventually killed them all, ending the confrontation. Blasts continued to be heard sporadically as attackers and security forces faced off for over five hours.
Students posted accounts of the attack on social media as police surrounded the sprawling campus.
“Please God give me patience. My classmates died or were injured before my eyes,” one of the students posted on his Facebook page. “We have also been taken as hostages. No security has arrived.”
The Interior Ministry said an explosion preceded the first round of shots fired.
Kabul University had been receiving threats for nearly three years, the injured professor told The National on condition of anonymity.
“About three years ago, we were told to be very cautious because the Taliban were trying to attack the university,” he said.
The university buildings are fitted with heavy metal doors and windows for such situations and staff and students had been locked in by security forces, said the professor who has been teaching at the university for five years.
However, witnesses reported that the assailants managed to enter the law faculty building.
In a Tweet, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the group was not behind the university attack.
Video posted on Twitter by the Afghanistan’s largest broadcaster, Tolo news, showed students fleeing as gunshots are heard in the background.
“When we heard the attack, everyone panicked and started running around because no one knew what to do,” law student Mohammad Wasel told The National.
“A few of us jumped the university walls near our building and escaped to safety.”
Tolo quoted sources saying the attack began as Afghan and Iranian officials were inaugurating a book exhibition at the university.
“We strongly condemn today’s terrorist attack on Kabul University. We fully believe in the strength of our security forces in eliminating the terrorists as soon as possible. After their disgraceful defeat of terrorists in Helmand, these groups are now targeting academic institute,” President Ashraf Ghani spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said.
Kabul was targeted in another attack earlier on Monday. A bomb blast in the Khwaja Sabz Posh district wounded a member of the security forces and a civilian. Kabul police said the Posh district explosion was caused by a magnetic roadside bomb that detonated at about 7.35am.
Universities in Kabul often the subject of militant attacks. Last year, a bomb outside of the Kabul University campus gates killed eight people. In 2016, gunmen attacked the American University in Kabul, killing 13.
Ali Doosti, a student who escaped Monday’s Kabul attack told The National: “The recent attacks show that the enemies of Afghanistan see educated Afghans as targets. They are doing everything in their power to stop our education. When I heard the gunshots today, I thought that these people are against my education.”
Mr Doosti said the incident motivated him to “fight back” by completing his education.
“This is the only way we can secure our future and our future of our country,” he said.
Last month, ISIS sent a suicide bomber into an education centre in the capital’s predominantly Shiite neighbourhood of Dasht-e-Barchi, killing 24 students.
Source:thenationalnews.com/world