At least 25 worshippers killed in attack on Afghan Sikh-Hindu temple
- There were conflicting accounts about how many gunmen were involved, with security sources giving differing numbers between one and four
- The incident came several hours before Afghanistan announced that the Taliban and government officials would hold a historic meeting
At least 25 people were killed Wednesday in an attack on a Sikh-Hindu temple in Afghanistan’s capital where worshippers were offering morning prayers, the latest brutal assault claimed by the Islamic State group.
The incident, highlighting the country’s ongoing security crisis, came several hours before Afghanistan announced that the Taliban and government officials would hold a historic meeting face-to-face over a prisoner exchange.
Along with a raging insurgency, impoverished Afghanistan is reeling from a massive cut in US aid while it struggles with political deadlock and rising coronavirus cases.
The Taliban denied any involvement in the latest attack, for which the Islamic State (IS) group claimed responsibility, according to the SITE intelligence group.
Witness Raju Singh Sonny told AFP a man in a police uniform burst into the temple in central Kabul, shot a guard and started attacking worshippers in the main hall.
“Several other attackers also entered the building and they were going from room to room shooting people,” Sonny said.