According to Ava News Agency (AVA), sources reported on Friday, 21 Hamal (April 10), that at least 20 people, including children, have been k*lled in a targeted attack on Shia pilgrims in the Injil district of Herat, Afghanistan. The victims had gathered at the Sayed Mohammad Agha shrine in the Dahmari area, located in western Injil district, when the incident occurred. Local reports described the situation as a “human tragedy,” with concerns that the death toll may still rise further.

Eyewitnesses told AVA that armed individuals first separated the men from the group and shot them in front of women and children. According to the account, women who attempted to flee after witnessing the attack were also shot, and children were among both the dead and injured. Local sources added that Herat Regional Hospital is experiencing one of its busiest and most difficult days due to the scale of casualties.

The report also noted that the area is predominantly populated by Shia Muslims and has previously faced security threats. Thousands of Shia Muslims in Afghanistan have been targeted in past attacks by extremist groups, including the Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), an armed faction affiliated with ISIS, underscoring ongoing concerns over sectarian violence in the region.