Attack on Shia Mourning Ceremony in Kabul Leaves at Least 14 Dead

The Afghan Ministry of Interior reports that the attack on the Sakhi Shrine in Kabul, where Afghan Shia were gathered for mourning ceremonies during Muharram, has resulted in 14 deaths and 36 injuries. The conflict at the shrine ended with the death of the attacker. Sediq Sediqi, spokesperson for the Afghan Ministry of Interior, indicated in an interview with Radio Free Europe (Dari section) that the number of casualties may rise. The Afghan Ministry of Interior also stated that the attack was carried out by one person; this statement comes after Mr. Sediqi had previously reported, based on initial information, that there were three attackers. Abdul Rahman Rahimi, the police chief of Kabul, had also told local media that 'four attackers' were involved in this incident, and security forces had 'neutralized all four.' The Sakhi Shrine is located in the third security district of Kabul in the Karte Sakhi area. The attack on the Shia mourning site began with an explosion nearby on the evening of October 12. Previously, a senior security official in Afghanistan had requested that those attending the mourning ceremonies of Ashura and Tasua gather only in mosques and religious centers and refrain from holding ceremonies outside these locations. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack on the Sakhi Shrine yet. Shia Muslims are a minority in Afghanistan, with varying estimates of their population. According to data from the Pew Research Center in Washington, seven percent of the country's population is Shia, while other estimates within the country suggest this figure could be as high as 20 percent. The majority of Shia are from the Hazara and Tajik ethnic groups.