DHAKA: Thirteen people, including seven students, died in an attack by gunmen on the American University in the Afghan capital Kabul, police say.

Two attackers were also shot dead by security forces nearly 10 hours after the assault began with an explosion on Wednesday evening.

Students and staff were trapped inside the university during the attack, which police said was now over.

No group has so far claimed responsibility.

The victims also included three police and three guards. Thirty-five students and nine police were injured and about 750 students and staff were rescued, Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi told the BBC.

Police had described the attack, which began at about 19:00 local time (14:30 GMT), as “complex”. Special forces were on the scene along with American military advisers.

One of those trapped inside the university for several hours was Massoud Hossaini, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist, who tweeted his experience and pleaded for help.

BDST: 1204 HRS, AUG 25, 2016
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** 7 killed, 30 hurt in Afghanistan