Attack on Afghan University Leaves at Least 22 Dead
2020-11-03
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1Islamic State militants attacked Kabul University on Monday as it held a book fair attended by the Iranian ambassador.
2The attack led to an hours-long gun battle at the largest school in Afghanistan.
3When the fighting stopped, at least 22 people were dead, and 22 others wounded.
4Most of those who died were students.
5The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.
6That information comes from the SITE Intelligence Group, which studies online messaging from groups suspected of terrorist acts.
7During the attack, students and teachers were seen fleeing the area around Kabul University's law and journalism schools.
8Afghan special forces surrounded the grounds of the school, leading teachers and students to safety.
9Things quieted as the sun set over the Afghan capital.
10An Interior Ministry spokesman said three attackers were involved in the raid, and that all three were killed.
11The Islamic State, or IS, said it targeted newly graduated "judges and investigators belonging to the apostate Afghan government."
12An IS statement claimed only two of its fighters were involved, which conflicted with the Afghan spokesman's report of three attackers.
13The group did not say they planned to target the Iranian official or the book fair.
14It was the second attack on an educational institution in Kabul in two weeks.
15On October 24, IS claimed responsibility for attacking a learning center in Dasht-e-Barchi, a mostly Shiite neighborhood of Kabul.
16At least 24 students were killed in that attack. Over 100 others were wounded.
17Five hours into the fighting on Monday, explosions and automatic weapons fire still could be heard down the empty streets surrounding the university's fenced grounds. Afghan troops stood guard.
18Ahmad Samim, a university student, told reporters he saw militants armed with pistols and Kalashnikov assault weapons firing at the school.
19Afghan media reported that a book fair was being held at the university.
20Several high-level officials were attending the event at the time of the shooting. None of them were reportedly hurt.
21Afghan officials refused to comment on the book fair.
22But Iran's semiofficial ISNA news agency reported Sunday that Iranian Ambassador Bahador Aminian and cultural representative Mojtaba Noroozi were to open the event.
23More than 40 Iranian publishers were to take part.
24Iranian state television reported that the attack took place, but did not offer information on the Iranian officials.
25Iranian diplomats have been targeted in Afghanistan in the past.
26The incidents dangerously increased tensions between the two countries.
27In 1998, Iran held the Taliban responsible for the deaths of nine Iranian diplomats working in its consulate in northern Afghanistan.
28Iran sent military reinforcements to its 950-kilometer-long border with Afghanistan.
29The IS-allied group in Afghanistan has declared war on the country's minority Shiite Muslims and claimed responsibility for many attacks since 2014.
30An attack earlier this year on a Kabul maternity hospital - also in the Dasht-e-Barchi neighborhood - was blamed on the Islamic State group.
31In that attack, militants killed 25 people, many of them newborn babies and mothers.
32Schools have also been targeted in past attacks.
33Last year, a bombing just outside of Kabul University killed eight people.
34In 2016, gunmen attacked the American University in Kabul, killing 13.
35I'm Ashley Thompson.
1Islamic State militants attacked Kabul University on Monday as it held a book fair attended by the Iranian ambassador. The attack led to an hours-long gun battle at the largest school in Afghanistan. When the fighting stopped, at least 22 people were dead, and 22 others wounded. Most of those who died were students. 2The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack. That information comes from the SITE Intelligence Group, which studies online messaging from groups suspected of terrorist acts. 3During the attack, students and teachers were seen fleeing the area around Kabul University's law and journalism schools. Afghan special forces surrounded the grounds of the school, leading teachers and students to safety. 4Things quieted as the sun set over the Afghan capital. An Interior Ministry spokesman said three attackers were involved in the raid, and that all three were killed. 5The Islamic State, or IS, said it targeted newly graduated "judges and investigators belonging to the apostate Afghan government." 6An IS statement claimed only two of its fighters were involved, which conflicted with the Afghan spokesman's report of three attackers. The group did not say they planned to target the Iranian official or the book fair. 7It was the second attack on an educational institution in Kabul in two weeks. On October 24, IS claimed responsibility for attacking a learning center in Dasht-e-Barchi, a mostly Shiite neighborhood of Kabul. At least 24 students were killed in that attack. Over 100 others were wounded. 8Five hours into the fighting on Monday, explosions and automatic weapons fire still could be heard down the empty streets surrounding the university's fenced grounds. Afghan troops stood guard. 9Ahmad Samim, a university student, told reporters he saw militants armed with pistols and Kalashnikov assault weapons firing at the school. 10Afghan media reported that a book fair was being held at the university. Several high-level officials were attending the event at the time of the shooting. None of them were reportedly hurt. 11Afghan officials refused to comment on the book fair. But Iran's semiofficial ISNA news agency reported Sunday that Iranian Ambassador Bahador Aminian and cultural representative Mojtaba Noroozi were to open the event. More than 40 Iranian publishers were to take part. Iranian state television reported that the attack took place, but did not offer information on the Iranian officials. 12Iranian diplomats have been targeted in Afghanistan in the past. The incidents dangerously increased tensions between the two countries. In 1998, Iran held the Taliban responsible for the deaths of nine Iranian diplomats working in its consulate in northern Afghanistan. Iran sent military reinforcements to its 950-kilometer-long border with Afghanistan. 13The IS-allied group in Afghanistan has declared war on the country's minority Shiite Muslims and claimed responsibility for many attacks since 2014. An attack earlier this year on a Kabul maternity hospital - also in the Dasht-e-Barchi neighborhood - was blamed on the Islamic State group. In that attack, militants killed 25 people, many of them newborn babies and mothers. 14Schools have also been targeted in past attacks. Last year, a bombing just outside of Kabul University killed eight people. In 2016, gunmen attacked the American University in Kabul, killing 13. 15I'm Ashley Thompson. 16The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 17_________________________________________________________________ 18Words in This Story 19book fair - n. a display or show of books typically by a group of publishers 20journalism - n. the activity or job of collecting, writing, and editing news stories for newspapers, magazines, television, or radio 21apostate - n. someone whose beliefs have changed and who no longer belongs to a religious or political group 22graduate - v. to earn a degree or diploma from a school, college, or university 23institution - n. an established organization 24pistol - n. a small gun made to be aimed and fired with one hand 25assault - n. a violent physical or verbal attack 26consulate - n. the building where a consul lives and works 27reinforcement - n. people and supplies that are sent to help or support an army, military force, etc. 28maternity - adj. used to refer to an area in a hospital where women who are giving birth to babies are cared for