Explosions and gunfire rang out at American University of Afghanistan in Kabul on Wednesday in what a police commander described as “a complex attack.”
Photo attributed to the attack on American University of Afghanistan in Kabul pic.twitter.com/EVunzOpyd3
— KAZEMI, Mustafa (@CombatJourno) August 24, 2016
Reporters in the area said students and teachers were sheltering in place. There were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries.
The university was established a decade ago, and claims an estimated 1,700 students are enrolled there.
At least twelve people are dead and 37 wounded after armed attackers rained down bullets and bombs during a nine-hour siege at American University of Afghanistan.
In the wee hours of Thursday morning, Afghan security forces killed the two attackers who shot into classrooms and hurled grenades around the campus in the capital city of Kabul, as students and teachers barricaded themselves inside. Although a guard died in the slaughter, about 700 students were rescued.
Authorities described the attack as “complex,” starting with a large car bomb blast followed by gunfire. Security forces stormed the campus shortly after the chaos erupted at 7 p.m. local time.
“Most of the dead were killed by gun shots near the windows of their classrooms,” said Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi. Seven students, three cops and two security guards were killed in the chaos, though police safely evacuated at least 700 students.
An Associated Press photographer was in a classroom with 15 students when he heard an explosion nearby.
“I went to the window to see what was going on, and I saw a person in normal clothes outside,” Massoud Hossaini told the AP.
“He shot at me and shattered the glass.”
He suffered cuts on his hands from the glass, he said, but managed to escape.
“Many students jumped from the second floor, some broke their legs and some hurt their head trying to escape,” fleeing student Abdullah Fahimi told Reuters. He injured his ankle in his bid for safety.
The American Embassy in Kabul warned citizens to “avoid the area until further notice.” The Afghan news agency TOLOnews reported that “dozens” of students and staff were locked in safe rooms around campus.
One professor, Ahmad Samin, tweeted during the chaos: “Oh my Allah safe everyone…Don’t kill me I’m very innocent #kabulattack.”
He later said he escaped safely.
Gunfire continued through the night as security forces surrounded the compound and eventually worked their way inside to battle the suspected militants.
“The fight is over and at least two attackers are killed,” an official at the scene told Reuters. “Right now a clearance operation is ongoing by a criminal technique team. More details will be announced soon.”
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack and a motive for the violence is unknown.
The U.S. Embassy is working to account for all of its personnel, according to a State Department spokeswoman.
American University is Afghanistan’s only private, non-profit and co-ed university. It was founded in 2006 and has about 1,100 students as well as partnerships with several major universities in the United States, including Stanford and Georgetown, according to its website. Classes are taught in English.
Earlier in August, five gunmen in Afghan military uniforms abducted an American and an Australian professor from the school. No group claimed responsibility for their taking and the professors were never found.