Multiple people have been killed after gunmen targeted civilians at a picnic spot in western Afghanistan, officials and a local doctor have said. There have been different reported death tolls from the attack in the Enjil district of Herat province on Friday. A Taliban interior ministry spokesperson said seven people were killed, while a provincial official reported four had died. No specific group has claimed responsibility so far. Unidentified armed men on motorcycles opened fire near the village of Deh Mehri, an interior ministry spokesperson stated. The recreational area is usually crowded on Fridays. A doctor from a hospital in Herat province confirmed that the victims were primarily Hazara Shia Muslims. He provided a higher casualty figure than officials, indicating that twelve people had been killed and another twelve were injured. Ahmadullah Muttaqi, the provincial head of information and culture for the Taliban government in Herat, stated that the incident occurred around 15:00 local time (11:30 BST). In a terrorist incident, armed men opened fire on residents who had gone to Deh Mehri village in Enjil district for recreation, he detailed. This area is a known location for the Shiite Muslim shrine, receiving daily visitors for prayers. Initial reports by the Taliban suggest seven fatalities and thirteen injuries, with some individuals in critical condition. Following the attack, a suspect was apprehended by security forces, continuing the investigation into this tragic event.
Tragic Attack at Afghan Picnic Spot Claims Lives
Tragic Attack at Afghan Picnic Spot Claims Lives
A shocking incident in Afghanistan sees at least four individuals killed as gunmen target civilians during a picnic in Herat province.
Gunmen opened fire on civilians in the Enjil district of Herat, resulting in multiple casualties. Despite conflicting reports regarding the death toll, details from local authorities indicate that the victims were predominantly Hazara Shia Muslims who had gathered for a picnic near a shrine. The Taliban government reports four fatalities, while a local doctor claims twelve people have died, emphasizing the ongoing dangers faced by minority communities in Afghanistan.
