Gunmen have attacked worshipers at a shrine in the Afghan capital Kabul, opening fire on the people who were commemorating the ninth day of the month of Muharram.
An Afghan police official said on condition of anonymity that at least 14 people had been killed and nearly two dozen injured in the assault on Tuesday, which marks the martyrdom anniversary of Hazrat Abbas, the loyal companion of Imam Hossein (peace be upon him), the third Shia imam.
The death toll is expected to rise.
The assailants began the attack just before 20:00 local time (1530 GMT). The assault was carried out at Karte Sakhi shrine, located in the west of the capital near Kabul University.
Witnesses said an explosion had been heard before gunfire erupted.
Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said, "Three attackers opened fire, two were killed." The third attacker is still on the loose.
This is not the first time Shia Muslims in Afghanistan have come under attack.
On July 23, over 80 people were killed and 130 injured in an attack in the capital claimed by the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group.
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