On Tuesday, December 6th, a suicide bomber attacked a Shi’ite Muslim shrine in the city-centre of Afghanistan’s capital Kabul. According to the latest reports, at least 48 people have been killed in the blast and more than 100 others severely wounded. The death toll is likely to increase in coming hours. Moreover, in a separate attack, an explosion struck a mosque in the city of Mazari Sharif (northern Afghanistan), killing at least four people and injuring several others. The security situation in the country is worsening and attacks targeting civilians can occur at any time without warning.
The Shi’ite shrine was attacked during the celebration of Ashura, a national holiday in Afghanistan. Hundreds of people gathered in the shrine to commemorate the day. Under the Taliban regime, Shias had been banned from marking Ashura in public. Tuesday’s attack is the bloodiest in Kabul since the fall of the Taliban government in 2001. Further violent attacks are likely in the country.
The situation in Afghanistan is extremely volatile and dangerous. Terrorist attacks targeting civilians and especially Western citizens could occur at any time. Travellers must be aware that most Western embassies firmly warn their citizen against all travel to the country. No area can be considered as safe.
