Cameron condemns British Council attack in Kabul

Friday, 19 August 2011 11:50 AM

By Phil ScullionFollow @PhilScullion

David Cameron has condemned the "vicious" attack on the British Council office in the Afghan capital Kabul which left at least nine dead.

The prime minister called the raid "cowardly" and pledged that it will not deflect the British government from the "vital work" being carried out in the war-torn country.

Heavily armed men forced their way inside the British Council office after using a suicide car bomb to destroy the compound wall.

The Foreign Office said that all British citizens had been safely evacuated from the building and the UK's ambassador confirmed that all the gunmen had been killed after a several hours of fighting.

Special forces from New Zealand played a key role in defending the compound and David Cameron rang the country's prime minister John Key to thank him earlier today.

Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt called the attack "despicable" and praised the work of locals to protect the building.

"It is due to the presence of mind of the staff involved and our good security measures that no British nationals were hurt," he said.

"This attack, against people working to help build a better future for Afghanistan, will not lessen the UK's resolve to support the Afghan people."

The British Council is partly government-funded and is mainly tasked with running various cultural programmes.

Amongst those killed were eight Afghan policemen and a foreign security official, according to Afghan authorities.

The attack comes on the anniversary of Afghanistan's independence from the UK in 1919 - a fact cited by the Taliban as they claimed responsibility for the assault.

Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander said: "I welcome the news UK nationals are safe and extend my sympathy to the families of those who have lost their lives.

"As well as the courage and bravery of Britain's armed forces, civilian staff in the British Council, British Embassy and our aid workers do outstanding work in Afghanistan and will continue to have our full support in their efforts."

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