Mothers and newborn babies killed in Kabul maternity hospital attack
More than 100 women and babies were carried out of the hospital, with three foreign nationals among those safely moved away.
Tuesday 12 May 2020 17:15, UK
At least 14 people have died, including two newborn babies and their mothers, after militants stormed a hospital in the Afghan capital.
During the shoot-out in Kabul, security forces struggled to evacuate the hospital while under fire so ended up carrying babies and women out the building, according to pictures shared by Afghanistan's interior ministry.
Black smoke was seen rising from the hospital not long after the attack begun in the Shiite neighbourhood of Dashti Barchi.
A spokesman for the interior ministry, Tareq Arian, said that more than 100 women and babies had been taken out of the hospital before the attack was over, but added that 15 people were wounded.
Three foreign nationals were among those safely removed from the building, Mr Arian said.
He also said that officials are unsure why the 100-bed maternity hospital was targeted in what he called an "Attack against humanity and a war crime".
Despite both the Taliban and IS being prevalent in the city, no group has immediately claimed it carried out the attack.
"The forces are trying to eliminate the terrorists and bring the situation under control," said Mr Arian while the battle was ongoing.
A statement issued by the ministry said that three attackers stormed the hospital, with all of them apparently being shot dead.
The statement added that the operation to secure the building was ongoing.
In the evening, husbands, fathers and family members of the patients headed to the hospital in an effort to hear news about their loved ones, with the names of those who have been moved out to other facilities being read out to the crowd.