New Delhi:
Gunmen targeted Shiite pilgrims in Kabul, on Tuesday, as they gathered near a shrine to celebrate the festival of Ashura, one of the most important on the Shiite calendar, the Ministry of Interior said.
A news agency reported that, according to the information from Afghanistan's Interior Ministry, 14 people were killed in militant attack on Shiite shrine in Kabul and 26 wounded.
Police evacuated pilgrims at the scene, according to local television station Tolo News.
Karte Sakhi shrine, where the attack took place, is located in the west of the Afghan capital, near Kabul University.
The threat of attack targeting Shiites was considered particularly serious during Ashura, and many foreign embassies had restricted their staff’s movements until the end of the week in Kabul.
Ashura, which will be observed on Wednesday, commemorates the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.
For Shiites around the world, Ashura is a symbol of the struggle against oppression.
As per media reports, a Board of Inquiry has been ordered to investigate the incident.
However, MoI spokesman said that attack at shrine is over and the last attacker has been killed by the police.
The last attack on the Afghan Shiite minority, on July 23 in Kabul, killed 84 people and left 130 injured. It was claimed by the Islamic State organisation.
