In brief
On Friday, a shooting incident in the Enjil district of Herat province left at least four people dead according to provincial officials, while other reports suggest the toll could be as high as 12. The victims were primarily Hazara Shia Muslims who had gathered for a picnic. Unidentified gunmen on motorcycles perpetrated the attack, which is being investigated by security forces, with one suspect reportedly arrested. The Taliban has yet to account for the incident, which has drawn attention due to the community's history of being targeted.
Multiple people have been killed after gunmen targeted civilians at a picnic spot in western Afghanistan, officials and a local doctor have said. There have been different reported death tolls from the attack in the Enjil district of Herat province on Friday. A Taliban interior ministry spokesperson stated that seven people were killed, while a provincial official reported four fatalities. No group has claimed responsibility so far. Unidentified armed men riding motorcycles opened fire near the village of Deh Mehri, an interior ministry spokesperson explained. This recreational area is usually crowded on Fridays.A doctor from a hospital in Herat province told the BBC that the victims were Hazara Shia Muslims. The doctor reported a higher casualty figure than officials - stating that 12 people had died and a further 12 were injured. Shia Muslims, primarily from the Hazara ethnic group, are a minority in Afghanistan and have faced attacks in the past.Ahmadullah Muttaqi, the provincial head of information and culture for the Taliban government in Herat, recounted that the incident occurred around 15:00 local time (11:30 BST). He confirmed that 'in a terrorist incident, armed men opened fire on residents who had gone to Deh Mehri village in Enjil district for recreation.'Muttaqi mentioned that four bodies and 15 wounded individuals - including two women - were taken to the Herat regional hospital. Security forces arrested a suspect following the attack. In a post on X, interior ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qani reported that preliminary information suggested seven people died and 13 others were wounded, with some critically injured. This village is a predominantly Shiite area, home to a shrine that attracts daily visitors for prayer.
