Seven students among 13 dead in university attack in Kabul

Thirteen people, including seven students, died in an attack by gunmen on the American University in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Three police officers and three guards are also among the victims of the assault which began with an explosion on Wednesday evening.

Thirty-five students and nine police officers were injured and about 750 students and staff were rescued, Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi told international media.

According to the police, students and staff were trapped inside the university during the attack.

The students reportedly barricaded themselves into the classroom, but witnesses claimed that grenades were thrown into the classroom, wounding several students.

Police described the attack, which began at about 19:00 local time (15:30 CET), as "complex". Special forces were on the scene along with American military advisers.

Two attackers were shot dead by security forces nearly 10 hours after it began.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.