AFGHANISTAN — (CNN) Gunmen killed six workers for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Wednesday in northern Afghanistan, the aid organization said.
The team of three drivers and five field officers was on its way to deliver livestock materials to an area south of the town of Shibergan, in Jawzjan province, when “unknown armed men” attacked, the ICRC said.
Two employees still are unaccounted for, the ICRC said.
The identity of the attackers is not known. The Taliban denied responsibility in a tweet from spokesman Zabihullah Mujahidm, and the Red Cross said in a statement, “It is not yet clear who carried out the attack or why.”
‘This is a huge tragedy’
The head of the ICRC delegation in Afghanistan, Monica Zanarelli, said in the statement: “This is a despicable act. Nothing can justify the murder of our colleagues and dear friends.
“At this point, it’s premature for us to determine the impact of this appalling incident on our operations in Afghanistan. We want to collect ourselves as a team and support each other in processing this incomprehensible act and finding our two unaccounted for colleagues,” she said.
ICRC President Peter Maurer,said, “We condemn in the strongest possible terms what appears to be a deliberate attack on our staff. This is a huge tragedy. We’re in shock.”
Lutfullah Azizi, the provincial governor of Jawzjan also told CNN that “unknown gunmen” carried out the attack in Qoshtapa district of Jawzjan province. He said police are searching for the missing employees.
“Shocked and devastated. We confirm that 6 ICRC staff were killed and 2 are missing in Jawzjan province, #Afghanistan. Statement to follow,” the Red Cross said in a tweet.
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