Explosion and gunfire reported at American University of Afghanistan in Kabul
Officials said gunmen have infiltrated the institute, and several students and lecturers are trapped inside the premises.

An explosion was reported near the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul's Darul Aman road on Wednesday, reported TOLO News. Local media sources said a gunbattle is underway at the scene. Unidentified assailants are believed to have infiltrated the university.
Officials confirmed that dozens of people are still inside the premises. Students who managed to escape said the incident started with gunfire which was followed by an explosion, the country's largest private channel reported. They also said that other students and lecturers are still trapped inside the university. The Afghan Crisis Response Unit has reached the premises, and teams of local police and special forces have surrounded the institute.
A senior interior ministry official told Reuters, "Several gunmen attacked the American University in Kabul and there are reports of gunfire and explosions. They are inside the compound and there are foreign professors along with hundreds of students." The new agency report by the news agency quoted Ahmad Shaheer, a student at the university, who said, "We are stuck inside our classroom and there are bursts of gunfire."
#University Under #Attack in Kabul https://t.co/7n3u3UEKxs pic.twitter.com/N65x9pFuea
— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) August 24, 2016
#AUAF - security forces have cordoned off the area. Officials confirm dozens of students & staff trapped inside. #Kabul
— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) August 24, 2016
#AUAF Student who managed to escape said incident started with gunfire then explosion, said students & lecturers still trapped inside #Kabul
— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) August 24, 2016
#Kabul explosion updates: Attackers have infiltrated inside the #American #University of #Afghanistan
— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) August 24, 2016
#Kabul explosion: initial reports indicates the #American #University of #Afghanistan is the target
— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) August 24, 2016