Kabul University attack death toll rises to 35

Gulf Today Report

The death toll from Kabul University has risen to 35, government sources said on Tuesday.

The victims were mostly students of the university, situated in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul.

Daesh’s local affiliate claimed responsibility for the attack.

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Daesh claims responsibility for Kabul University attack

Blast, gunfire erupt at Kabul University

Authorities said that gunfire erupted at the university in the Afghan capital early on Monday and police have surrounded the sprawling campus.

Afghanistan declared a national day of mourning on Tuesday to honour the victims who were killed in a horrific attack a day earlier in Kabul University.

A photographer takes photos inside a burned office of the National Legal Training centre at the university in Kabul. AFP

According to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors terror online messaging, the Daesh group said it targeted newly graduated “judges and investigators belonging to the apostate Afghan government” gathered at the campus.

The Daesh statement claimed only two of its fighters were involved, and posted their photographs, which conflicted with the Afghan authorities’ report of three attackers.

This was the second attack on an educational institution in the Afghan capital in just over a week, officials and witnesses said.

A student, wounded after gunmen stormed Kabul University, arrives in an ambulance to Isteqlal Hospital. AFP

Photos shared by a senior government official showed students lying dead in classrooms, some next to their books. One student appeared to have been shot as they were climbing out of a window.

"They were shooting at every student they saw ... they even shot at the students who were running away," witness Fathullah Moradi said.

"Three attackers were involved. One of them blew up his explosives at the beginning, two were brought down by the security forces," Arian said.