Doctors Without Borders claims attack by Afghan army

KUNDUZ , Afghanistan, July 4 (UPI) -- A hospital in Afghanistan operated by the non-governmental Doctors Without Borders was raided and searched this week, the group claimed.

The humanitarian organization, based in Geneva, Switzerland, said in a statement Friday Afghan military forces fired shots and threatened the staff of its main trauma hospital in the city of Kunduz, in northern Afghanistan, before leaving after about an hour. Three staff members were allegedly assaulted. It added the hospital has temporarily stopped admitting patients.

The organization, also known as Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) called the raid a violation of the Geneva Conventions. The attack occurred Wednesday.

"We are shocked by this incident," said Dr. Bart Janssens, MSF Director of Operations, in the statement. "Since it opened in 2011, Kunduz Trauma Center has been a place where all patients can receive free medical and surgical care safely. This serious event puts at risk the lives of thousands of people who rely on the center for urgent care."

The local army brigade leader, identified as Col. Nader, denied the involvement of his forces, saying, "Afghan National Army Special Forces have neither raided any hospital nor arrested anyone whatsoever. We completely deny that Afghan National Army had any involvement at all."

Local officials suggested the attackers were parts of police or army units from other parts of Afghanistan.

The hospital is located near Afghanistan's border with Tajikistan, and the site, since April of continued fighting between Afghan forces, hurried to the area from around the country, and the Taliban.