Three hours after insurgents launched an attack on the Save The Children organization in Jalalabad city in Nangarhar province plumes of black smoke could be seen rising from the compound. 
 
Provincial governor’s spokesman Attaullah Khoghyani said shortly after noon that the attackers had been dressed in military uniforms when they launched their attack. 
 
A security source meanwhile said that commandos had by 12 noon cleared two floors of the four-story building but that people were trapped inside. 

He said that so far two attackers have been killed. The exact number of attackers has not been confirmed but eyewitnesses state there were between four and six, including at least one suicide bomber. 

Hours into the attack Save The Children voiced their concerns about the safety of their staff. 

"We are devastated at the news that our SCI office in Jalalabad city, Afghanistan came under attack this morning. Our primary concern is for the safety and security of our staff. We are awaiting further information and cannot comment further at this time."  
 
A number of insurgents detonated explosives at the gate of the compound at about 9am local time before storming the compound. 
 
Security forces immediately cordoned off the area. By about 10am dozens of Afghan Special Forces descended on the scene.
 
By 12 noon local time a gun fight was still underway between security forces and insurgents. 
 
Worried relatives of Save The Children employees continued to wait for news of family members employed by the organization and thought to be trapped inside the compound. 
 
No details were available on casualties except for the 11 wounded people, who had been taken to local hospitals soon after the attack was launched. 
 
This comes just days after a 17-hour siege by Taliban insurgents on the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul, which killed at least 43 people – many of whom were foreigners. 
 
However, the Taliban was quick to distance itself from Wednesday’s attack and said they were not involved.