Three Killed, 21 Injured in Attack on TV Station in Kabul

At least three killed and 21 more wounded when militants armed with guns and grenades stormed the headquarters of Shamshad TV in Kabul on Tuesday, according to Health Ministry.

Two gunmen disguised in police uniform carried out the bombing with a suicide attack at at around 10:25 am, killing at least one security guard at the entrance of the TV station, Kabul Police Chief, Mohammad Salim Asas said. “After entering the premises, they began to fire on personnel.”

The Head of Shamshad TV station, Pashtoon said that the attack would not stop them and they are determined share information with public.

The attack forced the TV channel off the air for several hours. The Taliban denied any involvement.  Islamic State claimed responsibility for the bombing.

President Ashraf Ghani condemned the attack by on Shamshad TV station and described it as inhumane and an attack on the freedom of press. 

NATO also condemned the attack against the TV station.

“NATO condemns attack against Shamshad TV today as an attack against free press and commends ANDSF swift response,” the alliance quoted in a Twitter post.

The Secretary General of the alliance, Jens Stoltenberg said it was yet another example of attacks on civilians –  “which is unacceptable”.

“The last few weeks have been tough in Afghanistan, with a number of brutal and senseless attacks. Such as today’s attack on Shamshad TV,’ he said.

The U.S. embassy in Kabul called the attack a “terrorist act against free press.”

“I’m deeply disturbed by reports of attack on Shamshad network and condemn such terrorist acts against free press. It will not stand,” the Special Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul Hugo Llorens said on Twitter.