KABUL: Three alleged assailants entered the University of Kabul, in the capital of Afghanistan, on Monday morning and opened fire which left at least 20 people dead.

According to Afghan media, the Afghan government had confirmed the entry of the attackers into Kabul University, while all routes to Kabul University were sealed off.

A large number of students and teachers at the university managed to climb out of the university walls while many students were trapped inside the university, until the security forces took control of the building.

The attackers entered the university during a book launch at the university. Reports of the attackers entering the university and the firing spread panic.

They had taken a number of students hostage, but forces killed them.

A spokesman for the Afghan Interior Ministry said sporadic gunfire could still be heard in the area and that forces had cordoned off the area, but it was not immediately clear who fired or who was injured or killed.

According to Reuters, the Taliban denied involvement in the incident, while no other group has claimed responsibility.