Afghan security force members stand guard near the site of a temple attack in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, March 25, 2020. A total of 25 civilians were killed and eight others injured as armed militants stormed a temple in Kabul on Wednesday, Interior Ministry spokesman Tareq Arian said. (Photo by Mohammad/Xinhua)
KABUL, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Afghans from all walks of life strongly condemned the terrorist attack on a temple in Kabul Wednesday that claimed the lives of more than two dozen people.
In the deadly terrorist attack, according to some sources, at least four insurgents equipped with suicide vests, hand grenades and assault rifles burst into the temple at 07:45 a.m. local time and began shooting on the worshipers inflicting casualties.
Confirming the terror attack, Interior Ministry spokesman Tareq Arian said that 25 civilians were killed and eight others wounded, the victims include women and children. According to Arian, the security forces had rescued 80 others and killed the attackers.
However, locals believe that the number of casualties could be higher than reported as some 200 worshippers were present in the temple during the attack.
Hours after the attack, the Islamic State (IS) group claimed responsibility.
The Taliban outfit has rejected its involvement in the attack. Zabihullah Majahid who claims to speak for the Taliban group in contact with media said, the attack on the temple "has no relations with the Taliban fighters."
Afghans have strongly condemned the attack as a coward terrorist act against humanity.
"Attack on religious sites and worship place is a crime against humanity and deserves all kinds of condemnation," Presidential Palace said in a statement released here.
Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai has also described the attack on the temple as a terrorist one and condemned it.
"Today's terrorist attack won't be the first and not the last one. Several terrorist groups ... are operational in Afghanistan and Afghans would experience more deadly attacks in the coming days and month," a retired army officer, Noorul Haq, said.
At least four dozen Afghans including security personnel, militants and civilians have been killed across the country over the past 24 hours, Haq said with sorrow.
