Over 30 killed as gunmen dressed as medics attack Afghan military hospital

Record ID: 401389

  • Title: Over 30 killed as gunmen dressed as medics attack Afghan military hospital
  • Date: 8th March 2017
  • Summary: KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (MARCH 8, 2017) (REUTERS) CONVOY OF AFGHAN SECURITY FORCES LEAVING SITE OF ATTACK ON MILITARY HOSPITAL AFGHAN SECURITY PERSONNEL GUARDING AREA OF HOSPITAL CONVOY OF SECURITY FORCES AND MILITARY AMBULANCES LEAVING ATTACK SITE SECURITY PERSONNEL GUARDING AREA OF HOSPITAL ARMY AMBULANCE DRIVING / AUDIO OF SIREN SECURITY PERSONNEL GUARDING AREA OF HOSPITAL A
  • Embargoed: 22nd March 2017 13:46
  • Keywords: Afghanistan bombing hospital Taliban militancy Islamist Islamic State Kabul
  • Location: KABUL, AFGHANISTAN
  • City: KABUL, AFGHANISTAN
  • Country: Afghanistan
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Insurgencies
  • Reuters ID: LVA001673NR5Z
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Gunmen dressed as medics stormed a hospital in the Afghan capital Kabul on Wednesday (March 8) and battled security forces for hours, killing more than 30 people and wounding dozens in an attack claimed by Islamic State.
    A suicide bomber blew himself up at the rear of the 400-bed Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan hospital, across the road from the heavily fortified U.S. embassy, and three attackers with automatic weapons and hand grenades entered the complex, security officials said.
    A Defence Ministry spokesman said there were at least 30 dead and 50 wounded, including doctors, patients and hospital staff.
    Security forces ended the attack by mid-afternoon, killing all three gunmen, another spokesman said.
    Soon after, as armoured vehicles pulled out in convoy, relatives began streaming towards the hospital to seek news of their loved ones.
    Eyewitness Ghulam Hazrat told Reuters he had been visiting his brother in the hospital when the attack occurred.
    "We were in his room with two other visitors. A gunman entered and martyred the two visitors. I jumped from the fourth floor. My wounded brother is still in the hospital," he said.
    Officials said the gunmen, dressed as medical personnel, had taken up positions on the upper floors of the hospital.
    Security forces blocked off the area around the hospital, near a busy traffic intersection, and special forces soldiers descended onto the roof of the main building from helicopters. Sporadic gunfire could be heard for hours as fighting went on.
    Afghan officials had been warning that high-profile attacks in Kabul were likely to escalate this year.
    Islamic State's Amaq News Agency claimed the attack for Islamic State in a statement.
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