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Ashura attack kills Shia Muslims at Afghan mosque | |
(35 minutes later) | |
At least 14 people have been killed in an attack on a shrine in Kabul, as Shia Muslims prepared for a religious day of mourning. | |
A crowd had gathered at the Karte Sakhi shrine in Afghanistan's capital to mark Ashura, a commemoration of the martyrdom of Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. | |
Eyewitnesses reported an explosion and gunfire in the area. | Eyewitnesses reported an explosion and gunfire in the area. |
The shrine at Karte Sakhi is one of Kabul's largest. | The shrine at Karte Sakhi is one of Kabul's largest. |
A spokesperson for the Ministry of the Interior said the incident was over, with at least 14 people killed and 26 injured. One of the dead was a police officer, he said. | A spokesperson for the Ministry of the Interior said the incident was over, with at least 14 people killed and 26 injured. One of the dead was a police officer, he said. |
The death of Hussein, which is commemorated during Ashura, was an event that led to the split in Islam into two main sects - Sunni and Shia Muslims. | |
The government had warned of possible attacks during the day. | |
An attack in July, claimed by so-called Islamic State, killed 80 people, but before then Afghanistan had not seen the same level of violence against Shia Muslims as neighbouring Pakistan. | An attack in July, claimed by so-called Islamic State, killed 80 people, but before then Afghanistan had not seen the same level of violence against Shia Muslims as neighbouring Pakistan. |
Shia Muslims make up about 15% of Afghanistan's population, and many of them come from the Hazara ethnic group. | Shia Muslims make up about 15% of Afghanistan's population, and many of them come from the Hazara ethnic group. |