At least seven people have been killed after gunmen attacked the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul.

Security forces were alerted to the campus after students tweeted reports of gunfire and explosions and begged for help.

One wrote: "#AUAF under attack. I along with my friends escaped and several other of my friends and professors trapped inside."

A senior police officer told AP a further 30 were wounded before Afghan security forces killed two gunmen.

Police said the attack began at around 6.30pm local time (3pm UK time) on Wednesday with a large explosion that officials later said was a car bomb.


Image: The entrance of the Saleha Bayat Building at the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul (library pic: Creative Commons)

It was followed by gunfire, as suspected militants burst into the complex where foreign staff were working and pupils were studying.

Nearly ten hours after the initial blast, Fraidoon Obaidi, chief of Kabul police's Criminal Investigation Department, said: "We have ended our clean-up operation. Two attackers were gunned down."

Some students jumped from second floor windows to escape the attackers, witnesses and officials said.

"Many students jumped from the second floor, some broke their legs and some hurt their head trying to escape," said Abdullah Fahimi, a student who escaped.

Image: An Afghan police officer stands outside the campus

He injured his ankle making the leap.

"We were in the class when we heard a loud explosion followed by gunfire. It was very close. Some students were crying, others were screaming," he added.

No foreigners have been reported among the wounded.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack which comes two weeks after two university staff were kidnapped from their car by unknown gunmen.

Their whereabouts are still unknown.

Islamist militant groups, mainly the Afghan Taliban and a local offshoot of Islamic State, have claimed a string of atrocities.

They are aimed at destabilising the country and toppling the Western-backed government of President Ashraf Ghani.