16 killed, 54 injured in Kabul Ashura Attacks: MoI

At least 16 people have been killed and 54 others wounded on a shrine in capital, Kabul as Shia Muslims prepared for a religious day of mourning.

The attack begun around 07:30 P.M. when a gunman in police uniform opened fire on worshippers gathered at a shrine in Karte Sakhi area of Kabul for Ashura.

At least 16 worshippers were killed including two children and three women, 54 others including 26 women have been wounded, said an Afghan ministry of interior statement on Wednesday.

According to the statement, a police officer also died and 12 others have been injured in the incident.

The Chief of Police District 3rd was also among the injured people, the statement added.

The gun firing continued about two and half hours and ended after all gunmen were gunned down.

The attack occurred at one of Kabul’s largest shrines as Shi’ite Muslims gathered to observe the Ashura day, which commemorates the 7th Century death of a grandson of the prophet Mohammed.

No group has commented over the attack so far.

The Presidential Palace in a released statement while condemning the attack said: “This is a clear sign of their enmity with unity among the followers of Islam’s religions in Afghanistan.”

At the same time Chief Executive Abdullah also condemned the attack and expressed his condolences to the victims.

“I strongly condemn the terrorist attack that targeted our innocent people mourning Ashura earlier this evening in Kabul,‎” Abdullah said via Twitter on Tuesday night.