Heavy gunfire and a series explosions rocked the Marshal Fahim military university Monday in the Afghan capital of Kabul. Armed militiamen launched an assault on the academy’s entrance early this morning according to eyewitnesses.
According to the Ministry of Defense of Afghanistan spokesman Dawat Waziri, ten people have been injured and 5 officers killed in the line of duty. Security personnel managed to neutralize two of the attackers and two others were killed in the blast as the detonated explosive devices near a gate to this university compound. A fifth man was apprehended.
Islamic State (ISIS) has officially claimed responsibility for the attack according to the Amaq website.
Last October, the Marshal Fahim Military Academy was targeted by a suicide bomber, killing 15 army cadets as they left the facility situated near Qambar square. The last few weeks, deadly attacks have become sporadic across Afghanistan. Barely two days after the diplomatic district was rigged by a powerful explosion killing 103 people and some 235 injured, with 30 police officers among these casualties. At a police checkpoint, an explosive device planted inside an ambulance blew up and the Taliban took credit for the attack.
Wednesday last week, offices of the International non-governmental organization Save the Children were attacked by gunmen in Jalalabad. ISIS claimed responsibility for the assault which left 2 people dead and 12 injured.
Men armed with light arms and carrying rocket-propelled grenades had assaulted the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul, seizing hostages. The 12-hour-long confrontation led to the deaths of 22 people. The Taliban claimed to behind that attack barely one week ago. American citizens were confirmed to be among those killed during the siege according to the US Department of State.
Neba Benson,
BaretaNews Foreign Correspondent/Analyst
