American University of Afghanistan shooting in Kabul sees several professors and hundreds of students trapped by gunfire and explosions
Trapped Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Massoud Hossaini writes: 'Help... this may be my last tweet'
HUNDREDS of students are trapped after gunfire and explosions erupted at the American University in Kabul.
Witnesses report a fierce gun battle at the campus in Afghanistan's capital.
Multiple militants are carrying out an assault on the university killing at least one person and wounding another 18, officials said.
Photos from the scene appear to show several fires and smoke billowing from the campus.
Afghan special forces are at the scene.
An Afghan interior ministry official said: "Several gunmen attacked the American University in Kabul and there are reports of gunfire and explosions.
"They are inside the compound and there are foreign professors along with hundreds of students."
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An Associated Press' Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer is trapped on the campus.
Massoud Hossaini tweeted: "Help we are stuck inside AUAF and shooting flollowed by Explo this maybe my last tweets."
The message has since been deleted.
He has since spoken to the Associated Press and said he was in a classroom with 15 students when he heard an explosion on the southern flank of the campus.
He said: "I went to the window to see what was going on, and I saw a person in normal clothes outside. He shot at me and shattered the glass."
The students then barricaded themselves into the classroom, pushing chairs and desks against the door, and staying on the floor.
Hossaini and about nine students later managed to escape from the campus through a northern emergency gate.
He added: "As we were running I saw someone lying on the ground face down, they looked like they had been shot in the back."
Hossaini and the nine students took refuge in a residential house near the campus, and were later safely evacuated by Afghan security forces.
Journalist Ahmad Mukhtar confirmed he is also trapped inside the building.
He wrote: "#AUAF under attack. I along with my friends escaped and several other of of my friends and professors trapped inside."
One student told AFP over the phone: "We are stuck inside my class with other students. I heard explosions and gunfire is going on close by."
Afghanistan's only private university currently teaches 1,150 students.
It opened in 2006 following a funding drive from then-US First Lady Laura Bush.
Five gunmen wearing Afghan military uniforms snatched the pair from their 4×4 as they were driving home.
The two unnamed men are yet to be released.
The U.S. Embassy in Kabul issued a brief statement confirming the kidnapping of an American citizen but gave no further details “due to privacy concerns.”
It said: “U.S. Embassy security officials are working closely with Afghan law enforcement and security colleagues and AUAF to assist in the investigation into the kidnapping.”
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade also issued a statement confirming “the apparent kidnapping of an Australian in Kabul.”
Continuing, it said: “We continue to advise Australians not to travel to Afghanistan because of the extremely dangerous security situation, including the serious threat of kidnapping.”
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