KABUL (Pajhwok): At least 15 people were killed and 24 others injured in two back to back bomb blasts and gunfire in front of a 400-bed hospital in Kabul on Tuesday, officials said.
At around 1:30 pm, two explosions took place in front of the Sardar Daud Khan military hospital in Wazir Akbar Khan area, after which the attackers started an armed fight inside the hospital. Gunshots were heard after the blasts.
Deputy government spokesman Bilal Karimi said the first blast took place in front of the hospital and the second near the same hospital.
Interior Ministry spokesman Saeed Khosti said the blasts took place in front of the Sardar Daud Khan 400-bed hospital in Kabul’s 10th police district. He said the blasts caused casualties but exact number was not yet known.
Reuters news agency said 15 people were killed and 24 others were injured in the blasts.
A doctor at the hospital, who did not want to be named, told Pajhwok Afghan News the first blast took place at the entrance of the hospital and then the attackers entered the main building of the hospital.
He said the attackers entered the hospital building with two Ranger vehicles, light and heavy weapons, and heavy fighting was going on inside the building.
Another source said the attackers were five.
Earlier, a worker of the hospital, who wished to go unnamed, told Pajhwok Afghan News that two of the attackers were killed by security forces and operation was underway for eliminating a third who is hiding in a room of the hospital.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Dr Abdullah Abdullah condemned the attack and said: “I strongly condemn this attack and express my deepest condolences. Hospitals and other public places must be safe and secure from any kind of attack.”
Former President Hamid Karzai also called the attack a crime against humanity and a continuation of conspiracies against Afghanistan.
He stressed the need to understand the situation and strengthen national unity to save the country from these conspiracies.
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