Islamic State raid on Kabul University leaves 22 dead

GUNMEN shot dead at least 22 students when they stormed Afghanistan’s largest university yesterday, and opened fire in the law faculty.

Three attackers set off a siege and gun battle lasting hours at the sprawling Kabul University campus. It was the second attack on education in the country in 10 days.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, saying the target had been judges and investigators. An IS statement claimed the attack killed 80 people, and named two attackers as Anas al-panjshiri and Tareq alKhorasani. The Taliban i nsurgent movement denied any involvement.

Survivors told The Daily Telegraph one class had been almost completely wiped out. “Some of our best students are gone forever,” said Samiullah Mahdi, a lecturer. “I remember every one’s face, and have fond memories of them.

“Nothing could be worse than seeing their faces in blood.” The assault began when one attacker blew himself up, and two others opened fire at around 11.30am local time.

Pari Dukht Hussaini, a third-year public policy student, said the attackers had entered the senior law class. “When they entered, they were just killing anyone they came across,” she said.

The attack came 10 days after at least 24 students died when a suicide bomber detonated explosives outside an education centre where university hopefuls were cramming for entrance exams. That attack was claimed by the local branch of IS.

Last year, a bomb outside of the Kabul University campus gates killed eight people. In 2016, gunmen killed 13 at the American University in Kabul.

Efforts to start talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban have failed to stem violence in the country. The sides have spent nearly two months unsuccessfully trying to set ground rules for negotiations in Doha.

“We are shocked by the appalling attack on Kabul University,” the British embassy in Kabul said.