Gunmen disguised as doctors attack Afghan hospital

On March 8, a group of 3-5 gunmen disguised as doctors attacked a military hospital in the center of Kabul, Afghanistan.

An Afghan army helicopter approaches a military hospital occupied by gunmen. Photo: Reuters.

Afghan Defense Ministry officials told Al Jazeera that the attack began with a large explosion at the main gate of Sardar Daud Khan Hospital. Reuters estimated that three to five gunmen, disguised as doctors, armed with AK-47s and grenades, entered the hospital.

A gunman dressed as a medical worker barricaded himself upstairs and returned fire at security forces outside. The area around the hospital was cordoned off. A second explosion rocked the building hours after the first.

Defense Ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said security forces were exchanging fire with the attackers but were being careful to avoid causing casualties. Meanwhile, Health Ministry spokesman Ismail Kawasi said at least one patient and one hospital staff member were killed in the attack.

Security forces were deployed to the scene of the attack. Photo: AFP.

Sardar Daud Khan Hospital has about 400 beds and is the largest military hospital in the capital Kabul. The hospital is located in the center of Kabul, where many government buildings and embassies, including the US embassy, ​​are located.

Speaking at an event to mark International Women's Day, President Ashraf Ghani said a terrorist attack was taking place "in a place where lives are lost". He said the hospital was considered a "sanctioned" place and attacking it would be an attack on Afghanistan.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes a week after the Taliban carried out two suicide attacks on a police station and an intelligence unit in Kabul, killing 16 people.

According to TNO