In a statement broadcast on the Telegram channels of the jihadist organization, IS-K, the rival and main adversary of the Taliban, asserts that “five IS fighters carried out simultaneous and coordinated attacks“on the site. A jihadist activated an explosive belt at the entrance to the hospital before others entered the building and opened fire, the group added.
In the afternoon, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid accused ISIS.
“IS attackers wanted to target civilians, doctors and patients“of the Sardar Mohammad Dawood Khan hospital, the largest military hospital in the country, he added, assuring that the Taliban had put an end to the attack in 15 minutes after having notably helicoptered”special forces“on the roof of the building.
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It was in this establishment that last Wednesday the Taliban Minister of Defense Mohammed Yaqoub, son of the founder of the Taliban, Mullah Omar, made his first public appearance, in particular to ask Afghan businessmen to invest in hospitals. .
The attack was launched with “a suicide bomber on a motorcycle who blew himself up at the entrance to the hospitalan official in the Taliban government, who also referred to a second explosion, told AFP.
Several other attackers then managed to enter the hospital, where they ended up being shot by the Taliban dispatched to the scene, he said.
“Nineteen bodies and around 50 injured were taken to hospitals“in the Afghan capital, an official at the Ministry of Health told AFP on condition of anonymity.
– “IS is here!“-
Zabiullah Mujahid for his part reported only a few victims, indicating that two Taliban fighters, two women and a child had been killed near the hospital.
When the attack began in this facility which can accommodate up to 400 patients, “we thought we were going to dieRowana Dawari, a woman inside, told AFP.
She first heard “an explosion at the door“Then the assailants come in and open fire, windows shatter. She immediately, along with others,”hidden in a toilet“.
After the explosion, “people shouted + ISIS is here +” and “we heard a lot of gunshots“Amanudhin, a 28-year-old hospital cleaner, told AFP.
He said he fled the arrival of the attackers, pushing an elderly and fragile patient in her wheelchair. “We were on the 7th floor and locked ourselves in a room. There were wounded everywhere“.
Doctors, employees and patients “hid“until the arrival of the Taliban,”who broke the door to enter“, Amanudhin said.
– Already attacked –
A doctor told AFP that he feared the attackers would go “from room to room“to kill more people,”as was the case the first time the hospital was attacked“.
This establishment had already been targeted in March 2017 by attackers dressed as members of the medical staff, an attack claimed by IS.
This six-hour shooting inside the building had killed 50 people, according to the official record, and more than double according to security sources.
Since coming to power on August 15, the Taliban, who have made the return to security in Afghanistan their priority after 20 years of war, have faced a wave of bloody attacks by IS-K, another Islamist organization. of even more radical Sunni origin.
ISIS has targeted both the Taliban and the Afghan Shiite minority in recent weeks.
In recent days, a series of killings, presented by the local press as reprisals between Taliban and ISIS fighters, have taken place in particular in the province of Nangarhar (east), known to be the main stronghold of the ‘EI-K.
The previous attack on civilians in the Afghan capital dates back to October 3. At least five people were killed in an explosion near the Id Gah mosque in Kabul, an operation claimed by ISIS.
Other attacks have since taken place, targeting the Taliban police in particular.
“Targeting healthcare professionals and patients is abhorrent and has no justification“, meanwhile reacted Tuesday Ned Price, spokesman for the US State Department.
