Afghanistan attack: Save the Children suspends programmes - BBC

The UK charity Save the Children has temporarily suspended its programmes in Afghanistan after an attack on its offices in the city of Jalalabad.

Three members of staff and one soldier were killed in a suicide attack and siege of the building by Islamic State militants.

Some 46 people in the building, many of whom hid in a safe room, were rescued.

Save the Children said it was "shocked and appalled at the violence" carried out against "dedicated humanitarians".

The charity said that while it had temporarily suspended its operations across the country it remained "fully committed to helping the most deprived children of Afghanistan".

The attack started at about 09:10 local time (04:40 GMT) on Wednesday when a suicide bomber detonated a vehicle explosive at the entrance to the Save the Children compound.

In its latest statement, Save the Children said it was with "profound sadness" it confirmed the loss of three members of its staff. Four were injured. - More

Save the Children halts Afghan programmes

Forces rush to respond to Afghan attack