14 killed in gunmen attack on Ashura procession in Kabul

At least 14 people were killed and over 40 injured Tuesday night after gunmen attacked a shrine in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, where hundreds of mourners were observing Ashura rituals during holy Muslim's month of Maharram, sources said.

"The initial reports found 14 mourners were killed and over 40 wounded in the terrorist attack on Ziarrat-e- Shakhi shrine in western Kabul. The death toll could rise as many injured remained in critical conditions," a security source told Xinhua anonymously.

Witnesses said that they heard three grenade explosions and ensuing gunfire roughly at 07:50 p.m. (local time) at the shrine, which is located near the Kabul University in Jamal Mina locality of the city.

Majority of the victims were Shiite Muslim pilgrims.

"The attack site has been cleared by police special force, one terrorist was killed and details about casualties will be released later," Sediq Seddiqi, spokesman of the Interior Ministry, tweeted.

Among the killed was one police officer while three police were among the injured, according to the source.

Ashura, the 10th day of Muharram, marks the death of Imam Hussein, a grandson of Prophet Muhammad, who was killed and buried in Karbala, Iraq in 680 AD.

Further details about the incident are still forthcoming amid the absence of official statement.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani strongly condemned the attack and instructed the authorities to provide best medical treatment for the injured, according to a statement issued by the presidential palace. Endit