Three Americans killed in Kabul hospital attack
Those wounded in the attack were rushed off to hospital
Three Americans have been shot dead by a policeman at a hospital in the Afghan capital, Kabul, US officials say.
A spokesman for Afghanistan's interior ministry described those killed as "medical staff".
It was unclear whether the policeman was dead or in custody.
Afghanistan suffered a spate of deadly attacks in the run-up to presidential elections held on 5 April, including a restaurant bombing in January and an attack on a hotel in March.
Thursday's attack took place at a hospital in western Kabul run by Cure, a small US Christian charity.
The US embassy in Kabul tweeted that it was "with great sadness we confirm that three Americans were killed in the attack on Cure Hospital". No other information would be released for the moment, it added.
Police and the security forces quickly arrived at the scene of the attack
The hospital employs a number of foreign staff
Police say that the attack happened when a policeman at a nearby checkpoint opened fire on a group of five or six foreigners who were entering the hospital in western Kabul.
A spokesman for the interior ministry said that three had died, including two women. Others were being treated for their injuries, officials said.
Some reports say that the policeman, who was named as Ayunullah, shot himself after the incident. But the Reuters news agency says that he is wounded and in police custody.
The charity Cure took over the hospital seven years ago and restored it to specialise in providing healthcare for women and children. The 100-bed hospital employs 27 doctors and 64 nurses, Cure says.
The hospital, run by Christian charity Cure, focuses on healthcare for women and children
The BBC's David Loyn in Kabul says that it is the second attack on a Christian target in the city this year.
In March, the Taliban attacked a guest house used by foreigners working for a faith-based agricultural charity.
More than seven million Afghans turned out to vote earlier this month, defying Taliban militant threats to the poll.
The election marks the country's first democratic transfer of power.
A run-off will take place in late May if no candidate secures a majority.
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