At least 11 killed in shooting at picnic site in Afghanistan's Herat province

Kabul. At least 11 people have been killed after gunmen opened fire indiscriminately at a picnic spot in Herat province, western Afghanistan. 

The attack, which occurred near Deh Mehri village in Herat's Injil district on Friday, was initially reported to have claimed four lives. However, local officials confirmed that the death toll rose to 11 after seven more critically injured victims succumbed to their wounds during treatment.

The injured were transported to a hospital in Herat city. According to medical personnel, the victims belonged to the Shia Muslim community and were visiting a local religious site for a picnic. As a minority group in Afghanistan, the Shia community has frequently been the target of such attacks in the past.

 According to the Ministry of Interior spokesperson, unidentified gunmen on motorcycles opened fire suddenly in the crowded recreational area. The incident reportedly took place around 3:00 PM local time.                      

Ahmadullah Muttaqi, the Taliban government's head of information and culture in Herat, condemned the incident as a terrorist act, noting that four bodies and 15 injured individuals were taken to the hospital. The injured include two women. Security forces have arrested one suspect in connection with the attack. No group has claimed responsibility for the assault so far.