3 explosions target Shiite shrine in Kabul

Kabul, March 21

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.

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 honour 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.

The Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan has in the past targeted the country’s Shiites. The Sunni militant group considers Shiite Muslims heretics. AP