Scores feared dead as Afghan militants storm Kabul Sikh temple
Scores feared dead as Afghan militants storm Kabul Sikh temple
A senior security official who spoke on a condition of anonymity said that at least 11 people had been confirmed dead so far, with the numbers expected to rise.
2 min read
Dozens of worshippers are believed to be held hostage inside the Temple complex [Getty]
Unidentified gunmen and suicide bombers stormed a Sikh religious complex in the Afghan capital Kabul on Wednesday, with militants still locked in an ongoing battle with security forces, the ministry of interior has said.
The attack began at 7:45am (3:15am GMT) and targeted a temple in the Shorbazar area, where around 150 members of the religious minority had gathered, according to a Sikh member of parliament who spoke to AFP.
Afghan security forces were soon deployed to the area and are still engaged in a battle with the millitants, who have taken dozens of worshippers hostage, New York Times report.
One senior security official who spoke to NYT on a condition of anonymity said that at least 11 people had been confirmed dead so far, with the numbers expected to rise.
Security forces are now trying to rescue those held inside, according to an interior ministry spokesman.
''The clearing operation is underway in the temple,'' said Ahmad Tariq Aria.
''According to our initial information, four attackers are involved in the attack,'' he added.
The Taliban immediately distanced themselves from the attack, BBC News report.
Read more: US cuts $1bn in Afghan aid over leaders' deadlock
While it is unclear which group is responsible, a 2018 suicide bombing which killed over a dozen members of the Sikh community in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad was claimed by the self-style Islamic State group.
Earlier this month, the group killed 32 people and injured dozens in an attack on a Shia political gathering in the capital.
The attack comes a day after the US declared it would cut aid to the government by $1 billion over its unresolved political stalemate and failure to start negotiations with the Taliban.
Earlier this month, two politicians - Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdulllah - both claimed victory in the presidential election.
Agencies contributed to this report.
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The attack began at 7:45am (3:15am GMT) and targeted a temple in the Shorbazar area, where around 150 members of the religious minority had gathered, according to a Sikh member of parliament who spoke to AFP.
Afghan security forces were soon deployed to the area and are still engaged in a battle with the millitants, who have taken dozens of worshippers hostage, New York Times report.
One senior security official who spoke to NYT on a condition of anonymity said that at least 11 people had been confirmed dead so far, with the numbers expected to rise.
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''The clearing operation is underway in the temple,'' said Ahmad Tariq Aria.
''According to our initial information, four attackers are involved in the attack,'' he added.
The Taliban immediately distanced themselves from the attack, BBC News report.
Read more: US cuts $1bn in Afghan aid over leaders' deadlock
While it is unclear which group is responsible, a 2018 suicide bombing which killed over a dozen members of the Sikh community in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad was claimed by the self-style Islamic State group.
Earlier this month, the group killed 32 people and injured dozens in an attack on a Shia political gathering in the capital.
The attack comes a day after the US declared it would cut aid to the government by $1 billion over its unresolved political stalemate and failure to start negotiations with the Taliban.
Earlier this month, two politicians - Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdulllah - both claimed victory in the presidential election.
Agencies contributed to this report.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay connected
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