Gunmen Kill Civilians at Picnic Spot in Western Afghanistan
At least four people were killed and several others injured when unidentified gunmen opened fire on civilians at a recreational area near Deh Mehri village in the Enjil district of Herat province, Afghanistan. The attack occurred on Friday afternoon, a time when the location is typically crowded with visitors. While Taliban officials reported varying casualty figures, ranging from four to seven deaths, a local doctor stated that twelve people were killed and twelve injured. The victims were identified as Hazara Shia Muslims who had gathered near a local shrine for a picnic. No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the violence, although security forces reportedly arrested one suspect. The Hazara community, a religious and ethnic minority in Afghanistan, has frequently been targeted in past attacks. Taliban provincial officials described the incident as a terrorist act and confirmed that the wounded, including two women, were transferred to a hospital in Herat city for treatment. The discrepancy in death tolls highlights the challenges in verifying immediate post-incident data in the region.
Wire timeline
Gunmen Kill Civilians at Picnic Spot in Western Afghanistan
At least four people were killed and several others injured when unidentified gunmen opened fire on civilians at a recreational area near Deh Mehri village in the Enjil district of Herat province, Afghanistan. The attack occurred on Friday afternoon, a time when the location is typically crowded with visitors. While Taliban officials reported varying casualty figures, ranging from four to seven deaths, a local doctor stated that twelve people were killed and twelve injured. The victims were identified as Hazara Shia Muslims who had gathered near a local shrine for a picnic. No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the violence, although security forces reportedly arrested one suspect. The Hazara community, a religious and ethnic minority in Afghanistan, has frequently been targeted in past attacks. Taliban provincial officials described the incident as a terrorist act and confirmed that the wounded, including two women, were transferred to a hospital in Herat city for treatment. The discrepancy in death tolls highlights the challenges in verifying immediate post-incident data in the region.
BBC News