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6 March 2020 Kabul Shooting

Two gunmen attacked a memorial ceremony in Kabul on 6 March 2020, killing 32 people and injuring 82 others before being killed later the same day; the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant claimed responsibility.

SOLVED2020

Kabul, Afghanistan

3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

On 6 March 2020, a mass shooting occurred in Kabul, Afghanistan, during a public ceremony commemorating the 25th anniversary of the assassination of Afghan Shia leader Abdul Ali Mazari, who had been killed by the Taliban. Two gunmen fired on the crowd from a building under construction near the ceremony site.

The attack killed 32 people and injured another 82. The ceremony was attended by Afghan politician Abdullah Abdullah, who escaped the attack unharmed. The two gunmen responsible for the shooting were killed later the same day.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) claimed responsibility for the attack.

The attack occurred within a broader pattern of sectarian and political violence in Afghanistan targeting Shia communities and political gatherings.

Key facts

Victims
Abdullah Abdullah
Date
2020
Location
Kabul, Afghanistan
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 1995

    Afghan Shia leader Abdul Ali Mazari was assassinated by the Taliban (anniversary commemorated by the ceremony targeted in this attack).

  2. 2020-03-06

    Two gunmen opened fire from a building under construction on a ceremony in Kabul commemorating the 25th anniversary of Abdul Ali Mazari's assassination, killing 32 people and injuring 82 others.

  3. 2020-03-06

    The two gunmen were killed later the same day.

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People

  • Abdullah Abdullah

    VICTIM

    Afghan politician who attended the ceremony targeted in the attack and escaped unharmed

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

Kabul, Afghanistan

34.8408, 69.1708

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
Two gunmen attacked a memorial ceremony in Kabul on 6 March 2020, killing 32 people and injuring 82 others before being killed later the same day; the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant claimed responsibility.
Where did the shooting happen?
Kabul, Afghanistan.
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.
More cases in Afghanistan

Sources

  1. ENCYCLOPEDIC6 March 2020 Kabul shootingWikipedia · 2026-07-10
  2. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — The New York TimesThe New York Times · 2026-07-10
  3. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — BBC NewsBBC News · 2026-07-10

Record history

First published
JUL 11, 2026

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