Militants attack Afghan Shiites during Ashura
A bomb targeting Shiite worshipers in northern Afghanistan killed at least 14 civilians on Wednesday, an official said. Regional police spokesman Sarwar Hussaini said 26 others were wounded in the attack, which targeted the group as they were leaving a mosque following ceremonies to commemorate Ashura, a major religious observance for Shiites. Munir Ahmad Farhad, spokesman for the governor of Balkh province, said the bomb appeared to have been remotely detonated. Meanwhile, the death toll from a Tuesday night attack on Kabul’s biggest Shiite shrine rose to 17 people, including a police officer. Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said another 62 people, including 12 police officers, were wounded in that attack. There were three women and two children among the dead, and 26 women and three small children among those wounded, he said. No one immediately claimed responsibility for either attack, but the Taliban have targeted Shiites in the past. Sunni extremists view Shiites as apostates deserving of death. (AFP) See more news-related photo galleries and follow us on Yahoo News Photo Tumblr.
