KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – At least seven civilians were killed and 13 others wounded when unidentified gunmen opened fire in Afghanistan’s western Herat province on Friday, a Taliban interior ministry spokesperson confirmed.
In a post on X, Abdul Mateen Qani said the attack occurred in Injil district of Herat, where armed men on motorcycles opened fire on civilians gathered in a floodplain area in the village of Qabrezon.
Qani said the area is commonly used as a recreational site where residents gather on Fridays.
He said that the casualty figures were based on preliminary information and that the toll could change. He added that several of the wounded were in critical condition and that an initial investigation had been launched to identify the attackers.
Earlier, local sources reported that the attack occurred near a Shiite shrine in the Deh Miri area of Injil district, giving higher casualty figures, with at least 10 killed and several others wounded. Some local media outlets put the death toll as high as 35.
No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.
Shiite communities, particularly Hazaras in Herat province, have been repeatedly targeted in recent years. In several past incidents, the regional affiliate of Islamic State, ISKP, has claimed responsibility for similar attacks.
The shooting drew condemnation from former President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai and former reconciliation council chief Abdullah Abdullah. Karzai described the attack as inhumane, while Abdullah urged authorities to take immediate and practical steps to identify and bring those responsible to justice.
