One security guard was murdered and 21 students were injured when jihadis stormed American University in Afghanistan with guns and explosives.
The Chief of Kabul police’s criminal investigation department, Fraidoon Obaidi, now reports that two attackers have been killed.
Three weeks ago, the school suspended campus operations after two teachers were kidnapped at gunpoint. Their whereabouts still remain unknown.
This attack shows the continued strength of the Taliban and other anti-American forces that are poised to take power again as soon as the Americans are gone.
“Attack on American University in Kabul Ends”, by Michael Edison Hayden, ABC News, August 24, 2016:
An attack on The American University of Afghanistan in Kabul has ended, according to The Associated Press.
At least seven were killed and more than 30 were injured in the attack, The AP reported. The victims have not been publicly identified.
About 700 students were rescued, according to The AP.
The U.S. State Department this morning acknowledged reports of the attack on an official Twitter account, posting, “Reports of attack on American University in Kabul. Exercise caution, avoid unnecessary movement in the area & monitor news for updates.”
State Department Director of Office of Press Relations Elizabeth Trudeau later read a statement saying that they “condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms.”
“An attack on a university is an attack on the future of Afghanistan. Our embassy in Kabul, as well as our NATO counterparts of the Resolute Support Mission, are closely monitoring the situation as we are. We understand this situation is ongoing.
“We do understand there are small numbers of Resolute Support advisers who are assisting their Afghan counterparts as Afghan forces are responding as this situation develops. These advisers are not taking a combat role but advising Afghan counterparts,” she said.
“We are in the process of accounting for all chief of mission personnel and working to locate and assist any U.S. citizens affected by these attacks. The U.S. embassy in Kabul did issue a security message warning U.S. citizens of the attack and advising them to avoid the area until further notice. Our travel warning for Afghanistan warns U.S. citizens against travel to Afghanistan because of the continued instability and threats by terror attacks against U.S. citizens,” she said.
Massoud Hossaini, a photographer for The Associated Press, tweeted that he was trapped inside during the attack.
“Help we are stuck inside AUAF and shooting flollowed [sic] by Explo this maybe my last tweets,” he wrote.
The AP later reported that he was safe and had escaped from the school.
The attackers managed to enter Noor Hospital, adjacent to the school, according to eyewitnesses.
The American University of Afghanistan opened in 2006 and was a pet project of former first lady Laura Bush, who helped launch the institution on a 2005 visit to Kabul, the capital….