Kabul Attack: Hazara Gathering Death Toll Rises to 11

By Staff, Agencies

The number of people martyred in a militant attack on a Shia Muslim gathering in the Afghan capital, Kabul, has risen to 11, up from an earlier estimate of three, the interior ministry said on Friday.

Militants fired mortar bombs at the gathering on Thursday, a commemoration on the anniversary of the death of a leader of the Hazara ethnic minority.

Hundreds of people including top government officials such as Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah and at least three candidates for a July presidential election were at the event.

Nasrat Rahimi, spokesman for the ministry, said in a statement 95 people were wounded in what officials initially described as a rocket attack.

Rahimi said the Taliban planned the attack. On Thursday, the Wahhabi Daesh [Arabic acronym for “ISIS” l “ISIL”] militant group said it was responsible.

Takfiri militants have repeatedly attacked Hazara people in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan over the years.