At least one dead and 14 injured in car bomb attack on Save the Children office in Afghanistan

Vehicles ablaze at the scene of the attack in Afghanistan
REUTERS
Fiona Simpson24 January 2018

At least one person was killed and 14 injured after gunmen detonated a car bomb and stormed the offices of Save the Children in Afghanistan.

The attack began today with the suicide bombing outside the office of the aid agency in the eastern city of Jalalabad.

Four gunmen stormed the building before battling Afghan security forces who arrived on scene.

Some witnesses said the attackers appeared to have been wearing police uniform.

Smoke rises from the scene of the blast in Afghanistan
AFP/Getty Images

There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Islamic State fighters are active in the area.

The Taliban issued a statement claiming they were not involved.

Inamullah Miakhial, spokesman for Nangarhar regional hospital, said one person was killed and at least 14 wounded.

The casualty count might rise as a gun battle was continuing, he said.

Attackers clashed with security officials after the blast, officials said
EPA

“An explosion rocked the area and right after that children and people started running away,” said Ghulam Nabi, who was nearby when the bomb exploded. “I saw a vehicle catch fire and then a gunfight started.”

In a statement the charity said it was "devastated" by the attack and said the primary concern was for the "safety and security of its staff".

The attack in Jalalabad came just days after Taliban militants attacked the Hotel Intercontinental in the country’s capital, Kabul, killing at least 20 people, including 13 foreigners.

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