A single gunman attacked a crowded Shia shrine in Kabul on Tuesday, leaving 14 people dead and 36 injured on the eve of a major holy day, Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said.
The attacker entered the Sakhi shrine, located in Kabul's Kart-e Sakhi neighbourhood, on Tuesday evening and began shooting at people in prayer, Sediqqi said. The gunman was later shot dead.
The attack on came on the eve of the Ashura holy day, mainly observed by Shia Muslims to mark the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of the prophet Mohammad.
Ismail Kawusi, a spokesman for the Ministry of Public Health, said 15 women were among those wounded.
Mohammad Yahya, a resident of the area, said that his family was shaken by the attack.
Mudir Hussain Ali, another resident of the surrounding area, called the attack "a tragic event at such a holy place."
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
In the past week, the Taliban have launched offensives in Kunduz, northern Baghlan and southern Helmand provinces, stretching Afghan security forces thin throughout the country.
On the Ashura holy day in December 2011, attacks in Kabul, Mazar-e Sharif and Kandahar killed at least 80 people.
By Mohammad Jawad
