Four slain in attack on Afghan children’s charity

KABUL, Afghanistan — Gunmen stormed the offices of Save the Children in eastern Afghanistan on Wednesday, killing four people and triggering a shootout with police that lasted almost 10 hours, provincial officials and the organization said.

The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for the attack in Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province. Among the four killed were two staffers of the NGO, a security guard who also worked for Save the Children and an Afghan army soldier.

The assault started with a suicide bomber who detonated his explosives vest at the provincial offices of Save the Children, said Attahullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the provincial governor.

Security forces killed four other attackers, he said, adding that at least 26 people, including three members of the Afghan security forces, were wounded.

After eight hours, the fighting subsided. Khogyani said he initially thought it was over, but the shooting picked up again.

Two hours later, it was finally over, he said.

Carolyn Miles, president of Save the Children, expressed “profound sadness” at the killing of the NGO’s three employees in Jalalabad. She said four wounded staffers were receiving medical treatment.

“We are shocked and appalled at the violence, carried out against our staff in Afghanistan who are dedicated humanitarians, committed to improving the lives and well-being of millions of children across the country,” Miles said.

She added that the organization had been working in Afghanistan since 1976, “providing life-saving health, education, nutrition and child protection programs that have helped millions of children.” Save the Children said it had temporarily suspended its work across Afghanistan.

In a statement on its Aamaq media arm, the Islamic State group said one of its suicide bombers with an explosive-laden vehicle and a subsequent raid targeted “British and Swedish foundations and Afghan government institutes.”

Both the Taliban and Islamic State are active in eastern Nangarhar province.

Khogyani said the security forces had managed to rescue 46 people, mostly employees of Save the Children, as the attack unfolded.

— GETTY IMAGES Afghan security forces inspect the site of attack on the office of Save the Children, a U.K.-based charity, in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, on Wednesday. Islamic State claimed responsibility.