Save the Children suspends operations in Afghanistan after IS attack

Save the Children suspends operations across Afghanistan as Islamic State militants terrorized staff trapped inside one of its offices, in a deadly hours-long attack, the latest assault on a foreign charity.

Gunmen blasted their way into the British aid group’s compound in the eastern city of Jalalabad, killing three employees and wounding four others, Save the Children said in a statement.

An Afghan official had earlier confirmed the death toll, but had put the number of wounded at 27.

“It is with profound sadness that we can confirm three Save the Children staff members were killed earlier today in an attack on our office in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. All other staff have been safely rescued from the office,” Save the Children International chief executive Helle Thorning-Schmidt says, condemning the attack “in the strongest possible terms”.

“We have temporarily suspended our operations across the country following today’s events, however, we remain fully committed to helping the most deprived children of Afghanistan.”

— AFP