By An attack on a mosque occurred around evening prayers on the night of Tuesday, Aug. 1, in Herat, Afghanistan, killing 29 people and injuring 64 others. The attack occurred at a predominantly Shiite mosque named the Jawaida Mosque.
According to an Afghan police spokesperson, the two attackers also lost their lives. One attacker fired at worshippers before killing himself and the second killed himself with explosives among the crowd of worshippers.
The attack occurred at a predominantly Shiite mosque named the Jawaida Mosque.
A Taliban spokesman, Qari Yousad Ahmadi, denied the organization’s role in the deadly attack.
Shias are a minority in Afghanistan and many Shia residents of Herat expressed their disappointment with the police’s response by setting a station on fire. They believe the police’s response to the attack was very late.
Despite the outrage and disappointment of the local Shia residents, President Ashraf Ghani said, “Terrorists cannot create sectarian divisions among our people.”
A Taliban spokesman, Qari Yousad Ahamdi, denied the organization’s role in the deadly attack.
It is not yet known who is responsible for the attack, but the director of Herat Regional Hospital, Dr. Arif Shahram, believes the death toll may rise as many wounded patients are still in critical condition.