Afghan Special Forces and Commandos were eventually able to end a day-long battle with insurgents who had launched a coordinated attack against the Save The Children organization in Jalalabad, in Nangarhar, on Wednesday morning.
The attack lasted 10 hours and ended at about 7pm local time.
Dozens of people were rescued during the course of the afternoon as heavy gun fights between insurgents and security forces continued.
Sources have said as many as six insurgents could have been involved.
The attack meanwhile drew widespread condemnation through the day and governments and other aid agencies condemned the attack – especially against an organization that helped children.
Early reports indicate that at least three people were killed in the battle and over 25 wounded.
The Save The Children organization stated on Wednesday afternoon that it had temporarily suspended all projects in Afghanistan and had closed all its offices in the country.
The new US ambassador to Kabul, John Bass, meanwhile took to twitter and said: “I’m horrified by the cruelty of today’s attack on @SavetheChildren in Jalalabad. Targeting children and organizations that support them is inhumane, and I hope those behind this attack are quickly brought to justice.”
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Afghanistan also condemned the attack and said on twitter that “ an attack against an organization that helps children is outrageous. Aid workers are #NotATarget.”