KABUL: At least 22 people were killed by gunmen who stormed Kabul University before engaging security forces in an hours-long battle on Monday.
A spokesman for the Afghan interior ministry said the attack was eventually stopped when three gunmen were killed.
A regional Islamic State group claimed responsibility in a statement.
The attack began shortly before the expected arrival of government officials for an Iranian book fair and continued for several hours.
A further 22 people were wounded by the attackers.
Tuesday has been declared a national day of mourning by the government.
The Taliban denied involvement and condemned the attack shortly after it began on Monday. Hours later the Islamic State group issued a message on the Telegram app saying it had targeted “the graduation of judges and investigators working for the apostate Afghan government”.
IS has previously targeted education centres in Afghanistan, including an attack outside a tuition centre in Kabul last month that left 24 people dead. The group also claimed responsibility for a 2018 attack in front of Kabul University in which dozens were killed.
In a statement issued by the presidential palace, President Ashraf Ghani said authorities would “take revenge for this senseless attack”.
(With inputs from Agencies)
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