Deadly Attack on Afghan Mosque Claimed by Daesh Terrorists

IQNA – Daesh terrorist group has claimed responsibility for a deadly shooting at a mosque in western Afghanistan that claimed lives of six worshipers, including a child.

The assault that occurred inside a mosque in Herat province's Guzara district on Monday night.

According to a statement released on their Telegram channel late Tuesday, Daesh reported that the attack was carried out by one of its members using machine-gun fire. The violence not only claimed lives but also injured one individual.

The assailant managed to escape the scene, and the Taliban Interior Ministry has confirmed that an investigation is currently underway.

Reports from local media indicate that the mosque's imam was among the fatalities.

Former President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, expressed his condemnation of the attack on social media platform X, stating, "I consider this terrorist act against all religious and human standards."

The United Nations mission in Afghanistan joined in condemning the attack, highlighting that a child was among those killed. The mission has called for immediate action to bring the terrorists to justice and to implement protective measures for Shia communities.

The Daesh faction in Afghanistan, known to be a significant adversary of the Taliban, has a history of targeting schools, hospitals, mosques, and areas predominantly inhabited by Shias, including the Hazara ethnic group. Despite making up about 22% of Afghanistan's population, the Shia Muslims have faced ongoing violence, such as kidnappings and killings, frequently orchestrated by the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group.

This incident echoes a similar attack last year when a bombing attributed to Daesh struck a mosque in Mazar-e-Sharif, resulting in the death of at least 31 worshippers and injuring more than 80, underscoring the persistent dangers to the Shia community in Afghanistan.

Source: Agencies