MAZAR-I-SHARIF (SW): A second deadly attack on the Shiite community in less than 24 hours has claimed at least 14 more lives.
Following an armed assault on a gathering in Kabul on Tuesday night that saw 18 people including women and children dead, the second attack was in the form of a road-side improvised explosive device (IED) that killed at least 14 more in northern Balkh province on Wednesday.
According to the local officials, the IED was detonated with a remote control when mourners marking “Ashura”, the death anniversary of Imam Hussain, grandson of the Prophet Mohammad, were marching through the streets in Khwaja Qolak area. The blast was intense and it also severely wounded at least 25 people who were rushed to the public hospital.
Investigations into the blast have begun. Sheer Jan Durani, spokesman for the police in Balkh has said that initial reports suggest it was a planted IED, which caused havoc among the mourners of Ashura.
These attacks have been strongly condemned by the Kabul government and representatives of the international community here.
ENDS
