“Several gunmen attacked the American University in Kabul and there are reports of gunfire and explosions,” an interior ministry official told Reuters. “They are inside the compound and there are foreign professors along with hundreds of students.”

Local network TOLOnews reported there was an initial explosion before the gunmen infiltrated the high-walled campus, located in a relatively secure and upmarket part of Kabul.

“Help we are stuck inside,” tweeted Massoud Hossaini, an AP photographer. “These may be my last tweets.”

#AF: " Don't kill me I'm very innocent " one my friend who stuck inside of Afghan American he is v educated guy just shortly return to AFG

— Hbabur (@Humayoonbabur) August 24, 2016

Twitter eyewitnesses said that some students were able to make it out in time, as soon as they heard the blast, while others were locked down in their classrooms and offices.

“We’re dealing with a complex attack inside the American University. Special forces are en route,” a representative of Kabul’s rapid reaction force told local journalist Bilal Sarwary.

Photographs and video showed massed police forces stationed outside the gates.

View image on Twitter

Afghanistan’s 1TV news reported that there were “multiple” dead and wounded on campus. The channel also cited eyewitness reports claiming that some of the attackers may have entered Noor Hospital, located next door to the educational facility.

The American University of Afghanistan was established in 2006 with the help of US funds and remains the country’s leading private university. All classes are taught in English, and there are currently over 2,000 students enrolled.

Earlier this month, two professors, an American and an Australian citizen, were kidnapped from its campus.

UPDATE: 12:27 8/24/2016

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