At least two other loud explosions — including what the defense ministry called a car bomb in the hospital's parking lot — were heard as Afghan special forces launched a clearance operation to rein in the attackers.
“Three attackers armed with AK-47s and grenades entered the building. Our commandos are chasing them,” Ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri told AFP four hours after the first explosion.
“One of them has been killed, but two others are still resisting on the sixth and seventh floors of the building. We have evacuated all the patients.”
‘Criminal act’
Afghanistan's warring parties, including government forces, have repeatedly targeted medical facilities, decimating the country's fragile health system and preventing conflict displaced civilians from accessing life saving care.
