The Pashtun Times Latest News
KABUL: A coordinated attack on Shamshad TV, a private channel, has ended but Afghan forces are still searching the building for attackers.
TV officials said two attackers, wearing police uniforms, were gunned down by security forces. Staff-members of the TV station suffered no casualties.
However, eyewitnesses said two people were evacuated to hospital from the TV station.
An worker of the TV station, who wished to go unnamed, told Pajhwok Afghan News a number of gunmen opened fire on security guards before storming into the building at around 10:30am.
No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack. The Taliban denied involvement in the incident.
Meanwhile, President Ashraf Ghani strongly condemned the attack. In a statement from the Presidential Palace , he said: “Enemies of Afghanistan have once again shown they can commit any action, even attacking the freedom of speech, for achieving their nefarious designs.”
The president said such attacks could not harm the freedom of speech. The government would take all possible steps for the protection of media and journalists, he promised.
The Meshrano Jirga also condemned the attack in the strongest terms. The upper house of parliament asked the government to take measures for the security of journalists and media offices.
Claimed by the Islamic State (IS), the assault lasted about three hours before Afghan special forces defeated the assailants and rescued workers.
The miliants shot dead a security guard, entered the building and opened fire on staff security personnel. A large of security officials rushed to the site.
Two guards were killed and five people including a Shamshad TV worker wounded, according to Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish. – (Pajhwok)
