An attack on a military training academy in Afghanistan has resulted in the death of a U.S. Army two-star major general and wounded as many as 15 other soldiers, the Pentagon confirmed on Tuesday.
"A man dressed in an Afghan army uniform opening fire earlier this morning in a so-called 'insider attack.' One American has been killed. Fifteen others, NATO troops, we believe, were wounded in the attack." (Via ABC)
As The New York Times reports, the U.S. major general was reportedly shot at close range at a military training academy on the outskirts of Kabul. The identity of the major general was not immediately released.
Details of how the shooting unfolded are slim thus far, but as NBC reports, it started "when a lone gunman opened fire during a meeting."
"I'm told he was using a light Russian machine gun, very heavy firepower in this attack." (Via CNN)
The identity of the alleged shooter, who was reportedly killed in the incident, is also unknown at this time, although speculation has ranged from a member of the Taliban to a terrorist to a disgruntled Afghan soldier. (Via WCAU)
USA Today notes it could have been a so-called "insider attack" in which Afghan soldiers shoot coalition partners — although it notes those have decreased dramatically since 2012.
The New York Post quotes a spokesman for Afghanistan's Defense Ministry referring to the shooter as a "terrorist in an army uniform."
According to Fox News, Afghan and international troops were shot in the incident.
The major general is one of the highest-ranking member of the U.S. military to die in the conflict in Afghanistan. (Via MSNBC)
