At least 11 people were killed and 11 others injured in last Friday’s attack on civilians near a Shiite shrine in the western province of Herat, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said in a statement.
The attack took place on April 10 in the Deh Meri area, between Injil and Zinda Jan districts, where people had gathered for a religious visit.
“We express our condolences to the victims and to the families affected by this terrible crime, and wish those injured a speedy recovery,” said Georgette Gagnon, the mission’s officer in charge and deputy special representative of the secretary general.
She called on Taliban to conduct a full investigation and ensure the protection of all communities. “We ask the de facto authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and to ensure all communities across Afghanistan are protected from armed violence,” she said.
Local sources reported a higher toll, saying at least 13 people were killed and nine others wounded when four armed men attacked a group of civilians. Witnesses said the attackers, who arrived on motorcycles, opened fire at around 3 p.m. on a group of about two dozen people.
Many of the victims were believed to be members of the Shiite community. No group has claimed responsibility.
Hospital sources in Herat said several of the wounded remained in critical condition.
The attack has drawn broader condemnation. Richard Bennett, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, described the assault as “vicious” and said it appeared to follow a pattern of violence targeting Shiite communities, calling for an independent investigation.
Violence against Afghanistan’s Shiites has been a recurring concern in recent years, often linked to extremist groups, though responsibility for this attack has not been taken by any group so far.
