ADDS DEATH TOLL, DAESH TAKING RESPONSIBILITY, MANY DETAILS OF ATTACK
KABUL, Afghanistan (AA) – Daesh has taken responsibility for a deadly attack on a military hospital in the heart of the Afghan capital Kabul Wednesday.
In a statement, the Ministry of Public Health said five people died and more than 50 were injured when at least five suicide attackers stormed the Sardar Dawood Khan Hospital, also known as the 400-Bed Hospital, early in the morning.
Deash claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement on the site of its news agency Amaq, also claiming to have killed over 100.
Afghan officials said a suicide bomber first blew up at the entrance while the rest, armed with assault rifles and grenades, entered the hospital, making their way to the second and third floors.
A gun battle ensued between security forces and the attackers, who were disguised as doctors.
The hospital, located close to the diplomatic enclave including the U.S. Embassy and NATO headquarters, is frequented by hundreds of civilian patients on daily basis.
The Afghan Taliban earlier denied any involvement in this attack.
The Afghan government, international community, and aid agencies unanimously condemned the attack. President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani said the militants have defied all human values and attacked the entire Afghan nation.
Defense Ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri told Anadolu Agency that Afghan National Police Special Forces were deployed from helicopters to clear any remaining terrorists from the hospital.
This attack came a month after Afghan forces launched a massive operation against pro-Daesh rebels in the eastern Nangarhar province of the country bordering Pakistan. Over 100 militants have been killed in this ongoing operation.
