Taliban Attacks AUAF- American University of Afghanistan
A chaotic situation unfolded in Kabul in Wednesday after a car bomb detonated at a nearby school for the blind. At least one Taliban attacker fired at the American University of Afghanistan from one of the buildings. News media report multiple attackers inside the compound.
The blast occurred somewhere near 7 p.m. as students were gathered to eat. Afghanistan’s special forces are on scene.
American Military News is reporting that 7 people were killed and 20 wounded via Bilal Sarwary. Fox reported 1 dead, 14 wounded. The casualty totals may rise.
Bilal Sarwary, a local journalist, tweeted
#AFG A relative inside the American university ,attackers are tossing hand grenades.Afghan special forces have started engaging attackers.
— Bilal Sarwary (@bsarwary) August 24, 2016
#AFG A police commander in Police district 7, “at least 25 injured students rescued by Afghan Special Forces. There are fatalities.”
— Bilal Sarwary (@bsarwary) August 24, 2016
#AFG A police officer in police district 7 tells me, at least 100 students managed to escape from university.
— Bilal Sarwary (@bsarwary) August 24, 2016
Fox News reported,
Reporters in the area said teachers and hundreds of students took cover in classrooms as police and special forces surrounded the campus on the western outskirts of Afghanistan’s capital city. A car bomb had exploded outside a school for the blind next door before at least one attacker fired at the university campus from that school building, a police officer at the scene told The New York Times.
After the blast, witnesses reported hearing gunfire. The University is reportedly heavily fortified, but attackers were able to breach the fortifications and enter the compound.
Reuters reported that some of the attackers were wearing suicide vests.
The Sun UK reported,
“Several gunmen attacked the American University in Kabul and there are reports of gunfire and explosions.
“They are inside the compound and there are foreign professors along with hundreds of students.”
Students and staff sheltered in place during the attack. Some took to social media to ask for help, including the Associated Press Photographer Massoud Hussaini. Update: He is apparently ok.
Pic of #AP #photographer Massoud Hossaini after his #escape from #American #university #Kabul. #attack #Afghanistan https://t.co/26MleBS1xW
— Saskia Steinhorst (@scruffy65) August 24, 2016
Gunfire reported at American University in Afghanistan https://t.co/OSKlXv3aPw pic.twitter.com/4XJ6xhvfsV
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) August 24, 2016
AP Photographer Massoud Hussaini who’s stuck inside American University has been wounded.
— KAZEMI, Mustafa (@CombatJourno) August 24, 2016
Most of Hussaini’s tweets were deleted, but not before someone got screenshots:
#Afghanistan | Explosion and gun fire inside the American university in #Kabul. People call help on Twitter. pic.twitter.com/nuH2c86yd6
— Marshall FR (@Chief_MarshallR) August 24, 2016
Student from inside American University of Afghanistan posted this on Facebook a while ago: pic.twitter.com/62J9Grnmw3
— KAZEMI, Mustafa (@CombatJourno) August 24, 2016
The student has not yet updated his status, so it is unknown whether he survived the attack.
Fighting ongoing inside American University in Kabul within a building on the left side of main entrance.
— KAZEMI, Mustafa (@CombatJourno) August 24, 2016
BREAKING — Ambulances from Kabul emergency hospital are arriving back, loaded with wounded from the attack on AUAF.
— KAZEMI, Mustafa (@CombatJourno) August 24, 2016
Confirmed from students inside: Multiple attackers have entered American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, gunfight underway.
— KAZEMI, Mustafa (@CombatJourno) August 24, 2016
Photo attributed to the attack on American University of Afghanistan in Kabul pic.twitter.com/EVunzOpyd3
— KAZEMI, Mustafa (@CombatJourno) August 24, 2016
