Gunmen stormed Afghanistan’s Kabul University, killing at least 22 people on Monday and Islamic State militants claimed responsibility for the attack.

The country’s president Ashraf Ghani, who once lectured at the university, called the attack a “despicable act of terror”.

The health ministry said that the three attackers killed at least 22 people, including students, and wounded 22 others before Afghan security forces shot the gunmen dead.

Last month, a suicide bomber killed 24 people including students at an education centre in Kabul. Islamic State claimed responsibility for that attack as well.

The attacks come as the government and Taliban negotiators have been meeting in Qatar to try to broker a peace deal and as the United States brings home its troops.

The presidential palace announced a day of mourning on Tuesday.