International
Gunmen kill 14, wound dozens at Kabul shrine
Tragedy struck at a shrine in the Afghan capital of Kabul when gunmen opened fire killing at least 14 people and wounding 24 others some days before the holy day of Ashoura.
Reports say the gunmen targeted Shia pilgrims as they gathered to mark Ashoura, one of the most important days on the Shia-Muslim calendar.
According to interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi, one of the assailants was killed while trying to enter the shrine with a vest loaded with explosives.
A senior police officer, who spoke to Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity, said the suicide attacker – dressed in a police uniform – entered the Karte Sakhi shrine near Kabul University in the west of the city.
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A witness said the assailant shot dead a policeman guarding the entrance with a pistol before taking his AK-47 assault rifle and “firing randomly at worshippers”.
Two attackers had been killed and at least one more assailant remained on the loose as at the time of filing in this report.
“At least 14 people were killed, including one policeman, and more than 30 were injured,” Al Jazeera’s Qais Azimy said, reporting from Kabul.
“Security forces in the area were already on high alert. They had warned the Shia community earlier to avoid gathering in public places because they apparently had intelligence that an attack might happen.”
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