Gunmen storm Shia mosque in Afghan capital

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan (AA) - Two policemen were killed and at least 10 civilians, including women and children injured during an ongoing attack on a Shia mosque in capital Kabul Friday afternoon, according to an Interior Ministry spokesman.

Armed men stormed the Imam Zamin Mosque affiliated with the Shia community in the city’s Qala-e-Najara neighborhood when hundreds of people were attending weekly Friday prayers.

Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish confirmed the death and injury toll to Anadolu Agency. He said the clashes between gunmen and security forces at the mosque were at the moment ongoing.

The Taliban have denied their involvement in this sixth incident of its kind this year.

According to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, four of the previous attacks occurred in western Herat province bordering Iran while the other two in Kabul. Daesh had claimed responsibility for two of these attacks.

Earlier this month, up to 31 people were killed following a suicide attack and subsequent gun battle at a Shia mosque in Herat.

Last year, the UN mission recorded four separate attacks against Shia mosques and religious gatherings, two of which were claimed by Daesh.