Afghanistan: 3 explosions target Shiite shrine in Kabul, kill 6 during new year festival
Mar 21 (AZINS) Multiple explosions in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Thursday killed six people and wounded 23 in an attack during celebrations to mark the Persian new year, government spokesmen said.
An Afghan official says three explosions have struck near a Shiite shrine and cemetery in western Kabul as people gathered there to mark the holiday of Nowruz, the Persian New Year.
The Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan has in the past targeted the country's Shiites. The Sunni militant group considers Shiite Muslims heretics. However, there were no immediate reports of casualties.
Interior Ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi says Shiite worshippers came to the Karti Sakhi shrine in the Afghan capital when the blasts took place on Thursday morning in the Shiite neighbourhood.
The tradition at the shrine is to hoist green flags and honor the dead at the cemetery by placing food at the gravesides.
It's unclear what caused the explosions and no group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
Nowruz, an ancient Persian festival to mark the start of spring that is widely celebrated in many parts of Afghanistan but has also faced opposition from some hardline Islamists, who say it is un-Islamic.
There were conflicting reports about of the cause of the blasts near the Kart-e Sakhi shrine, in a heavily Shi'ite Muslim area in the west of Kabul.
An interior ministry spokesman said mortar bombs had been fired. The defence ministry said in a post on Twitter that three rockets were fired at civilian homes and Nowruz gatherings.
The defence ministry said police had arrested the attacker and secured the area.
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