12 people killed in American University attack: Police

Twelve people were killed in American University attack. An explosion and gunfire have been heard at an American University in Kabul on Wednesday. Many trapped students were tweeting desperate messages for help. Among them was Associated Press photojournalist and Pulitzer Prize winner Massoud Hossaini. 

At least 12 people were killed after militants stormed the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, officials said on Wednesday, in a nearly 10-hour raid that prompted anguished pleas for help from trapped students. 

Explosions and gunfire rocked the campus after the attack began yesterday evening, just weeks after two university professors—an American and an Australian—were kidnapped at gunpoint near the school.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the assault, but it occurred as Taliban insurgents ramp up their nationwide summer offensive against the Western-backed Kabul government.

Live Updates:

#10:25pm
Unconfirmed reports indicate about 100 students and staff escaped but many trapped inside - some locked down in saferooms: Local media

#10:20pm
Shooting has stopped.

#10:18pm
At least 2 killed, 5 injured at American University in Afghanistan, said police source.

Help we are stuck inside AUAF and shooting followed by Explo this maybe my last tweets," tweets Massoud Hossaini (@Massoud151) August 24, 2016.

His tweet was later deleted to ensure his location is not revealed.

According to unconfirmed reports, he and nine other students have managed to make an escape through northern emergency gate.

"We are stuck in my class with other students. I heard explosions and gunfire are going on close by," a desperate student told AFP by telephone.

Students who managed to make an escape from the premises claimed that the incident first started with gunfire and then followed by an explosion.

Some students and lecturers are still trapped inside the university premises.

#Kabul #AUAF Student who escaped said incident started with gunfire then explosion, students & lecturers still trapped inside: TOLO News

— ANI (@ANI_news) August 24, 2016

(This is a developing story)