© AFP 2016/FARSHAD USYAN
Armed suicide bombers have attacked a mosque in the Afghan capital and may be holding hostages, the US Embassy in Kabul said in a statement on Tuesday.
"The US Embassy in Kabul has received reports that several heavily armed suicide bombers entered Karte Sakhi Mosque (PD-3) and may have opened fire on parishioners," the statement said.
Comment: Attacking a mosque you say? Curious.
The assailants are believed to have hostages, the Embassy added.
Afghanistan's health ministry said at least 18 people were injured after gunmen opened fire at the Karte Sakhi Mosque, which is a Shiite shrine.
Parishioners had gathered at the mosque ahead of the Shiite holy day of Ashura.
Initial news reports said at least eight people had been killed in the attack.
Comment: Fourteen dead and 36 wounded at last count. The mosque was densely packed when the attack occurred, and initial reports anywhere from 1 to 8 attackers. The Afghan interior ministry now says there was only one attacker, and police say he was dressed in a police uniform and suicide vest. He initially shot a policeman with a handgun, then started randomly shooting at worshipers with an AK-74 (video from outside the mosque has the sound of gunfire). No word as yet on the fate of the attacker. The Taliban explicitly denied responsibility for the attack.