Newborn babies among 13 killed after gunman storm maternity hospital

Two newborn babies are among 13 killed after gunmen stormed a maternity hospital in Kabul.

The attack on the Afghan capital also left 11 mothers and nurses dead and a further 15 people – including children – were injured.

The 100-bed Dasht-e-Barchi hospital according to officials, houses a maternity unit run by global health charity Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) and some of the medics there are foreigners.

Locals heard two blasts followed by gunfire at around 10am local time (5.30am GMT) before at least three gunmen wearing police uniforms entered the hospital, opened fire and throwing grenades.

At least 100 people, including mothers, nurses and foreign aid workers, were evacuated and the attackers were killed by security services after a battle lasting hours.

The Taliban has denied involvement.

Islamic State, which previously launched attacks in the Shia area of the capital where the hospital is based, has not yet commented.

The attack came after a separate attack on a funeral in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar on Tuesday where at least 24 were killed .

A bomb was reportedly detonated during the service, injuring a further 68 people.

The breakdown of a peace deal between the US and Taliban in February over a prisoner swap is believed to be responsible for sparking further violence.