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IS attack on university leaves 22 dead

Published:Tuesday | November 3, 2020 | 12:12 AM
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Afghan police patrol at the site of an attack at Kabul University in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Monday, November 2, 2020.
AP
Afghan police patrol at the site of an attack at Kabul University in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Monday, November 2, 2020.
Afghan police work at the site of an attack at Kabul University in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Monday, November 2, 2020. The brazen attack by gunmen who stormed the Kabul University has left many dead and wounded in the Afghan capital. The assault sparked a ho
AP
Afghan police work at the site of an attack at Kabul University in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Monday, November 2, 2020. The brazen attack by gunmen who stormed the Kabul University has left many dead and wounded in the Afghan capital. The assault sparked a hours-long gunbattle.
Afghan police arrive at the site of an attack at Kabul University in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. Gunfire erupted at the university in the Afghan capital early Monday and police have surrounded the sprawling campus, authorities said. (AP Photo
AP
Afghan police arrive at the site of an attack at Kabul University in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. Gunfire erupted at the university in the Afghan capital early Monday and police have surrounded the sprawling campus, authorities said. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
Afghan police arrive at the site of an attack at Kabul University in Kabul, Afghanistan, yesterday. Gunfire erupted at the university in the Afghan capital early Monday and police have surrounded the sprawling campus, authorities said.
AP
Afghan police arrive at the site of an attack at Kabul University in Kabul, Afghanistan, yesterday. Gunfire erupted at the university in the Afghan capital early Monday and police have surrounded the sprawling campus, authorities said.
Afghan police arrive at the site of an attack at Kabul University in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. Gunfire erupted at the university in the Afghan capital early Monday and police have surrounded the sprawling campus, authorities said. (AP Photo
AP
Afghan police arrive at the site of an attack at Kabul University in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. Gunfire erupted at the university in the Afghan capital early Monday and police have surrounded the sprawling campus, authorities said. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
A man is treated at a hospital after a deadly attack at Kabul University, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. The brazen attack by gunmen who stormed the university has left many dead and wounded in the Afghan capital. The assault sparked a hours-
AP
A man is treated at a hospital after a deadly attack at Kabul University, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. The brazen attack by gunmen who stormed the university has left many dead and wounded in the Afghan capital. The assault sparked a hours-long gunbattle. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
Afghan police arrive at the site of an attack at Kabul University in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. Gunfire erupted at the university in the Afghan capital early Monday and police have surrounded the sprawling campus, authorities said. (AP Photo
AP
Afghan police arrive at the site of an attack at Kabul University in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. Gunfire erupted at the university in the Afghan capital early Monday and police have surrounded the sprawling campus, authorities said. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
A doctor looks at an x-ray of a man being treated at a hospital after a deadly attack at Kabul University, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. The brazen attack by gunmen who stormed the university has left many dead and wounded in the Afghan capi
AP
A doctor looks at an x-ray of a man being treated at a hospital after a deadly attack at Kabul University, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. The brazen attack by gunmen who stormed the university has left many dead and wounded in the Afghan capital. The assault sparked a hours-long gunbattle. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
Afghan police arrive at the site of an attack at Kabul University in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. Gunfire erupted at the university in the Afghan capital early Monday and police have surrounded the sprawling campus, authorities said. (AP Photo
The Associated Press
Afghan police arrive at the site of an attack at Kabul University in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. Gunfire erupted at the university in the Afghan capital early Monday and police have surrounded the sprawling campus, authorities said. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
Afghan police patrol at the site of an attack at Kabul University in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. The brazen attack by gunmen who stormed the university has left many dead and wounded in the Afghan capital. The assault sparked a hours-long gun
The Associated Press
Afghan police patrol at the site of an attack at Kabul University in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. The brazen attack by gunmen who stormed the university has left many dead and wounded in the Afghan capital. The assault sparked a hours-long gunbattle. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
A member of the Afghan security forces arrive at the site of an attack at Kabul University in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. The brazen attack by gunmen who stormed the university has left many dead and wounded in the Afghan capital. The assault
The Associated Press
A member of the Afghan security forces arrive at the site of an attack at Kabul University in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. The brazen attack by gunmen who stormed the university has left many dead and wounded in the Afghan capital. The assault sparked a hours-long gunbattle. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
A man is treated at a hospital after a deadly attack at Kabul University, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. The brazen attack by gunmen who stormed the university has left many dead and wounded in the Afghan capital. The assault sparked a hours-
The Associated Press
A man is treated at a hospital after a deadly attack at Kabul University, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. The brazen attack by gunmen who stormed the university has left many dead and wounded in the Afghan capital. The assault sparked a hours-long gunbattle. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
A man is treated at a hospital after a deadly attack at Kabul University, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. The brazen attack by gunmen who stormed the university has left many dead and wounded in the Afghan capital. The assault sparked a hours-
The Associated Press
A man is treated at a hospital after a deadly attack at Kabul University, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. The brazen attack by gunmen who stormed the university has left many dead and wounded in the Afghan capital. The assault sparked a hours-long gunbattle. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
A man is treated at a hospital after a deadly attack at Kabul University, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. The brazen attack by gunmen who stormed the Kabul University has left many dead and wounded in the Afghan capital. The assault sparked a
The Associated Press
A man is treated at a hospital after a deadly attack at Kabul University, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. The brazen attack by gunmen who stormed the Kabul University has left many dead and wounded in the Afghan capital. The assault sparked a hours-long gunbattle. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
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KABUL (AP):

Islamic State militants in Afghanistan stormed Kabul University on Monday as it hosted a book fair attended by the Iranian ambassador, sparking an hours-long gun battle and leaving at least 22 dead and 22 wounded at the war-torn country’s largest school.

Most of the casualties were students and there were fears the death toll could climb further with some of the wounded said to be in critical condition.

It was the second attack on an educational institution in Kabul in as many weeks.

The Taliban promptly issued a statement denying they took part in the assault, which came as the insurgents continue peace talks with representatives of Kabul’s US-backed government, with the aim to help the United States finally withdraw from Afghanistan. Later in the day, the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.

As the attack unfolded, students and teachers were seen fleeing the part of the campus where law and journalism schools are located, while hand grenades exploded and automatic rifle fire could be heard. Scores of Afghan special forces surrounded the campus, shepherding teachers and students to safety.

The chaos subsided as the sun set over the Afghan capital and the Interior Ministry’s spokesman, Tariq Arian, said all three attackers involved in the assault were killed.

The Islamic State group said it targeted newly graduated “judges and investigators belonging to the apostate Afghan government” gathered at the campus, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors terror online messaging.

The IS statement claimed only two of its fighters were involved, and posted their photographs, which conflicted with the Afghan authorities’ report of three attackers. The claim did not indicate the IS intended to target the Iranian envoy or the book fair.

Last week, IS also claimed a brutal assault on a tutoring centre in the Afghan capital’s mostly Shiite neighbourhood of Dasht-e-Barchi that killed at least 24 students and wounded more than 100 others on October 24.

The peace negotiations between the Taliban and the Kabul government, known as intra-Afghan talks, were part of a deal Washington signed with the insurgents in February. They are taking place in the Gulf Arab state of Qatar, and are seen as Afghanistan’s best chance at peace – though daily bloodshed has continued.