Attack On Shi’ite Mosque In Afghan City Kills At Least 29

A suicide attack on a Shi’ite mosque in the western Afghan city of Herat killed more than 29 people and wounded more than 64 on Tuesday.

More than 1,700 civilians have been killed in attacks in Afghanistan so far this year, hitting confidence in the Western-backed government of President Ashraf Ghani.

Abdulhai Walizada, a local police spokesman, said there appeared to be more than one attacker on Tuesday, with witnesses describing a suicide bomber who detonated explosives and at least one other, a gunman who threw grenades at worshippers.

Worshiper and eyewitness of the attack, Reza Rezaiee said “At first two attackers started shooting at people inside the mosque and then they threw grenades over men and women. Many people were killed and wounded in the attack including women.”

Abdul Ghani, a victim of the attack said “The attackers opened fire on worshipers for at least five minutes, when their bullets finished they started throwing hand grenades and then a powerful explosion occurred I don’t know whether it was a bomb suicide attack.”

Mohammad Asif Rahimi, governor of Herat, said at least 29 people were killed and 64 wounded in the incident which came two months after an attack on a 12th century mosque known as the Jama Masjid in Herat, in which seven people died.