Attack on American University in Afghanistan leaves 12 dead

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A brazen, hours-long militant attack on the American University of Afghanistan ended early Thursday after at least 12 people were killed and dozens were wounded in the assault on the sprawling campus on Kabul's outskirts, a government spokesman said.

The attack underscored how despite efforts by the Afghan authorities to improve security, militants in this country are still able to stage large-scale attacks, including in the country's capital, Kabul.

The assault began just before 7 p.m. Wednesday — a time when hundreds of students typically attend evening classes at the prestigious university — with a suicide car bombing at the university's entrance.

Ghani condemned the assault as an "attack on education institutions and public places" and said it would "strength our goal to eliminate the roots of terrorism."

The university, located on the western edge of Kabul, was established in 2006 to offer liberal arts courses modeled on the U.S. system, and has more than 1,000 students currently enrolled.

The attack came two weeks after two university staffers, an American and an Australian, were kidnapped from their car by unknown gunmen driving home from the campus after evening classes on a Sunday night.

The Taliban have been fighting to overthrow the Kabul government for 15 years, and regard foreign civilians as legitimate targets.