Save the Children Is Attacked in Afghanistan; ISIS Claims Responsibility

January 25, 2018 by admin
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Afghan civilians gathered Wednesday in Jalalabad as smoke billowed nearby. An explosion outside Save the Children’s office in the city was followed by a lengthy siege.

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Noorullah Shirzada/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

JALALABAD, Afghanistan — Gunmen stormed the office of Save the Children in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad after an explosion on Wednesday morning, killing at least one person, officials said. Hours later, with fighting at the scene still underway, the aid agency said it had suspended all of its operations in Afghanistan.

“We remain committed to resuming our operations and lifesaving work as soon as possible,” Save the Children said in a statement. The London-based charity works in 16 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces, and its programs reach more than 700,000 children, according to its website.

The Islamic State’s local affiliate in Afghanistan claimed responsibility for the attack, according to the group’s Amaq news agency.

Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the governor of Nangarhar Province, which includes Jalalabad, said the gunmen entered the charity’s office after a suicide bombing in front of the building.

People fleeing the scene of the attack. The pace of violence in Afghanistan has been relentless in recent weeks.

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Noorullah Shirzada/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

“I saw a white car arrive, then armed men rushed out of the car,” said a witness, Mohammed Waseem, 28. “After that a blast occurred, followed by gunfire. I had to run away to seek safety for myself.”

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Later in the day, with fighting between militants and security forces still underway, Mr. Khogyani’s office said that one person had been killed and 20 wounded, but that most of the injuries were not severe.

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