Gunmen disguised as doctors attacked a military hospital in the Afghan capital, Kabul, killing at least 30 people and left many injured. The assault took place this Wednesday morning, it was claimed by the Islamic State. A suicide bomber detonated explosives, then gunmen opened fire on guards located inside the fortified medical compound.
Several attackers were able to reach the second floor, where they fought against Afghan special forces. Military officials stated the attack was quelled by about 4 p.m. The Washington Post reports more than 50 people were wounded in the assault.
The attack on the Sardar Daud Khan hospital followed a pair of similar attacks that took place a few days ago. Those attacks were claimed by the Taliban. The terrorists chose the right moment to attack the military hospital, when there was a ceremony. Most of the casualties were civilians.
More details about the attack
Security officials stated the attackers were wearing doctors' uniforms, and one witness said he saw a man dressed in a doctor's coat pull out a Kalashnikov rifle and open fire. Government forces were locked in sporadic exchanges of fire inside the hospital. Television showed one Afghan military helicopter landing on the roof of the main compound and dropping reinforcements.
Regional groups claiming allegiance to the Islamic State have claimed several bombings, including one that killed 22 people outside the Supreme Court. The terrorists attacked when there was a ceremony in Kabul marking the third anniversary of the death of Afghanistan's anti-Soviet militia leader, Marshal Fahim Khan. Government officials attended the ceremony accompanied by large numbers of armed guards.
The region near the military hospital was deserted and quiet before the terrorist attack. Security and emergency vehicles had difficulty reaching the attacked hospital from other places of Kabul. The Afghan President, Ashraf Ghani, was speaking at a ceremony honoring International Women's Day when the terrorist attack occurred, he urged women to stand up to such attacks.
