News / Afghanistan

Daesh terrorists attack TV station in Afghan capital, kill 2

Tuesday, 07 November 2017 11:16 AM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 07 November 2017 11:22 AM ]

Afghan policemen are seen at the site of an attack on a private television station in Kabul, Afghanistan, on November 7, 2017. (Photo by Reuters)

Daesh terrorists disguised as police have attacked a private television station in the Afghan capital of Kabul, killing at least two people and injuring 20 others.

The attack on Shamshad TV began with an explosion as an attacker blew himself up at the gate of the station. Gunmen then stormed the building.

“People dressed in police clothes came in and initially threw hand grenades, which killed one of our guards and wounded another,” Abed Ehsas, Shamshad’s news director, told broadcaster Tolo News TV.

“After that, others got into our building and started firing. Some of our colleagues were hit, though, thank God, many others managed to get out. Some were wounded by gunshots, falling glass and when they jumped from high floors,” he added.

The wounded guard died shortly later.

The attack lasted about three hours. Afghan special forces freed the staffers who had been trapped inside the building and killed at least one assailant .

It was not clear how many terrorists had been involved. An eyewitness told AFP he had seen three.

Afghan security personnel run to take positions after gunmen disguised as policemen storm a television station in Kabul, on November 7, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

The Pashto-language broadcaster had gone off the air and was transmitting only a still image during the attack. But it resumed broadcasting later, saying the assault had ended.

“The attack has ended. According to the commander of the special forces, all the staff who were inside the building have been rescued,” Shamshad TV announced shortly after the attack ended. “This is an attack on freedom of media but they cannot silence us.”

The Daesh terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack, without offering evidence. The Taliban had earlier denied involvement.

Afghanistan has been gripped by insecurity since the United States and its allies invaded the country as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror in 2001. Many parts of the country remain plagued by militancy despite the presence of foreign troops.

During the past 16 years, Taliban militants have been conducting attacks across the country, killing and displacing civilians.

Daesh has emerged in the country more recently.

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