A group of gunmen stormed a gurudwara in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul on Saturday and opened fire, The Indian Express reported. At least two explosions were reported at the same time in the same Karta Parwan area, TOLO News, an Afghan news outlet tweeted along with a video of the blast.
What we know so far –
1. Around 6 am local time, a huge blast was heard near Karte Parwan Gurudwara in Kart-e-Parwan neighbourhood of Kabul.
2. The blast was followed by another explosion that occurred about half an hour after the first blast.
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3. Around the same time, a group of gunmen stormed the gurudwara and opened fire.
4. “Gunmen have opened fire in the gurdwara. We are on the other side of the building right now. Some people are suspected to be dead, but details will be clear only when we move inside,” Gurnam Singh, the president of the Gurdwara Dashmesh Pita Guru Gobind Singh Karte Parwan, told the Indian Express.
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5. At least three people managed to escape and two of them were rushed to the hospital, ANI reported, quoting sources. The guard of the Gurudwara was reportedly shot dead. Several Taliban soldiers also reportedly suffered injuries.
6. India said it is closely monitoring the situation.
“We are deeply concerned at the reports emanating from Kabul about an attack on a sacred Gurudwara in that city,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and waiting for further details on the unfolding developments,” he said.