Gunmen on Motorcycles Kill at Least Seven Civilians at Hazara Shia Picnic Spot in Herat

At least seven dead after gunmen target a Hazara Shia shrine and picnic spot in Afghanistan’s Herat province. One suspect arrested following the Friday attack.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 10, 2026, 4:32 PM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from BBC

A Deadly Assault During Friday Recreation

A violent attack disrupted a traditional Friday gathering in Afghanistan’s western Herat province when unidentified armed men on motorcycles opened fire on civilians. The incident occurred approximately at 15:00 local time near the village of Deh Mehri in the Enjil district. According to Taliban interior ministry spokesperson Abdul Mateen Qani, the attackers targeted a popular picnic spot and religious shrine that is typically crowded with families seeking recreation on the weekend. The preliminary assessment from the ministry indicates that seven people were killed and 13 others sustained wounds during the rapid gunfire.

Discrepancies in Reported Casualty Figures

Conflicting reports regarding the final death toll have emerged from various government and medical sources in the aftermath of the shooting. While the central interior ministry reported seven fatalities, Ahmadullah Muttaqi, the provincial head of information and culture, initially stated that four bodies had been brought to the Herat regional hospital alongside 15 injured victims. However, a local doctor speaking to the BBC provided a significantly higher figure, suggesting that 12 people had been killed and an equal number injured. These disparities highlight the chaotic nature of the immediate response and the critical condition of several survivors.

Targeting of the Hazara Shia Minority

The victims of the shooting were identified as Hazara Shia Muslims, an ethnic and religious minority group that has historically faced systemic persecution and targeted violence in Afghanistan. According to local officials, the village of Deh Mehri is a predominantly Shiite area, and the shrine located there serves as a central point for both prayer and community gatherings. Although no group has officially claimed responsibility for this specific massacre, the Hazara community has frequently been the subject of sectarian attacks by extremist organizations operating within the region.