Categories: Latest News

Gunmen kill dozens at remembrance service of Shiite leader

Gunmen killed at least 27 people and wounded 29 more in Afghanistan’s capital on Friday at a remembrance ceremony for a minority Shiite leader, officials said.

Heath Ministry spokesman Wahidullah Mayar said the injured had been taken to hospitals in Kabul.

All of the casualties were civilians, said interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi.

Several prominent political leaders escaped the ceremony unhurt, including Abdullah Abdullah, the country’s chief executive and a top contender in last year’s presidential election.
Afghan security forces were still trying to flush the gunmen out of a half-finished apartment building, Mr Rahimi said.
Dozens of Afghan security forces had cordoned off area.

The Taliban have denied they were behind the attack, and while no one has claimed responsibility for carrying it out, Afghanistan’s upstart Islamic State affiliate has declared war on the country’s minority Shiites.
Most of the people attending the memorial service were Shiite.

The attack came just days after the United States and the Taliban signed an ambitious peace deal that lays out a conditions-based path to the withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan.
Any US troop pullout would be tied in part to promises by the Taliban to fight terrorism and IS.
Friday’s ceremony was held in the mostly Shiite Dasht-e-Barchi neighbourhood of the capital, Kabul.

The memorial marked 25 years since the death of Abdul Ali Mazari, the leader of Afghanistan’s minority ethnic Hazaras, who are mostly Shiite Muslims.

He was killed in 1995 by the Taliban as they moved to take control of Kabul, which had been destroyed by a brutal civil war among mujahedeen groups, including Mr Mazari’s.

Any US troop pullout would be tied in part to promises by the Taliban to fight terrorism and IS.
Friday’s ceremony was held in the mostly Shiite Dasht-e-Barchi neighbourhood of the capital, Kabul.

The memorial marked 25 years since the death of Abdul Ali Mazari, the leader of Afghanistan’s minority ethnic Hazaras, who are mostly Shiite Muslims.

Ben Idah

Recent Posts

Latest update on fuel price hike, fuel scarcity for November 22nd, 2024

As Nigerians express their frustrations over the recent fuel price hikes by the Nigerian National…

1 hour ago

Full List of 80,000 delisted companies published by CAC

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has officially removed companies that failed to file their annual…

1 hour ago

Amended NDLEA Act: Senate approves life imprisonment for drug traffickers, rejects death penalty

The Senate on Thursday agreed with the House of Representatives' recommendation to replace the death…

2 hours ago

Monday Odigie steps down as Bendel Insurance coach

Monday Odigie, the coach of Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin, has resigned from his…

2 hours ago

Lewandowski reflects on missed Manchester United transfer

Robert Lewandowski has reflected on the time he nearly joined Manchester United in 2012, only…

3 hours ago

Okoye reflects on Super Eagles return after two years

Maduka Okoye has reflected on his first appearance for the Super Eagles in two years.…

3 hours ago