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Afghanistan conflict: Militants storm Sikh temple in Kabul Afghanistan conflict: Militants storm Sikh temple in Kabul
(about 2 hours later)
Afghan security forces are battling militants who stormed a temple belonging to the Sikh religious minority in central Kabul. Afghan security forces are battling militants who stormed a busy temple belonging to the Sikh religious minority in central Kabul.
Suicide bombers and gunmen attacked the temple in the Shorbazar area at about 07:45 (03:15 GMT) as 150 people were at worship inside. At least one person died and a number were wounded after suicide bombers and gunmen attacked the temple in the Shorbazar area at 07:45 (03:15 GMT).
Casualty numbers are unknown but some worshippers have been rescued. Some 150 people were inside and a number of them have been rescued.
Two years ago the Islamic State group targeted a Sikh gathering in Afghanistan, killing 19 people. The Islamic State (IS) group, which has targeted Sikhs before in Afghanistan, says it is behind Wednesday's attack.
The country's main militant group, the Taliban, has denied involvement in Wednesday's attack. Afghanistan's main militant group, the Taliban, denied any involvement.
Witnesses report hearing explosions and gunfire from the temple area, which has been sealed off by Afghan special forces. What do we know about the attack?
"People are stuck inside the building and [security forces] are trying to rescue them," interior ministry spokesman Tariq Arian told AFP news agency. An interior ministry spokesman quoted by Reuters news agency said the majority of people in the temple had been rescued, and two attackers had been killed.
About 150 people were inside the temple which houses families and regularly hosts morning prayers, said Anarkali Kaur Honaryar, a Sikh MP in the Afghan parliament.
People switched off their phones and tried to hide when the attack began, he said.
A health ministry spokesman quoted by Reuters said one child had been killed and 15 people had been wounded, adding that the toll could rise.
Another Sikh MP, Narender Singh Khalsa, told Reuters he had information that four people had been killed and he put the number of people inside at 200.
"Three suicide bombers entered a dharamsala [sanctuary area]," he said. "The gunmen started their attack at a time when the dharamsala was full of worshippers."
Photos from the scene show security forces carrying people away on stretchers.Photos from the scene show security forces carrying people away on stretchers.
Anarkali Kaur Honaryar, a Sikh MP in the Afghan parliament, said people were hiding inside the temple and their phones were switched off. How vulnerable are Sikhs in Afghanistan?
"I am very concerned," he said. "There are about 150 people inside the temple. Families are living there and they usually gather to offer prayers in the mornings." Afghanistan's dwindling Sikh population, now said to number fewer than 10,000, has long complained of discrimination and harassment by the Muslim majority.
Afghanistan is currently mired in a political stalemate with two politicians - Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah - both having claimed victory in the presidential election. In July 2018, IS said it had bombed a gathering of Sikhs and Hindus in the eastern city of Jalalabad, killing 19 people and injuring 20.
The US has been trying to break the deadlock and also save a deal it signed with the Taliban militant group that is supposed to pave the way for peace in Afghanistan. Awtar Singh Khalsa, one of the country's best-known Sikh politicians at the time, was among those killed.