Afghan medical workers carry one of the bodies of two foreign women who were gunned down by men on a motorcycle, at the morgue of Herat hospital on July 24, 2014. Two foreign female aid workers were shot dead by unknown gunmen while travelling in a taxi in the western Afghan city of Herat, officials said. Photo AFP- LEHTIKUVA.
Gunmen killed two Finnish female aid workers in Afghanistan on Thursday morning. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the fatal attack on Twitter.
International news agency AFP reported that two unidentified men on a motorcycle shot at the aid workers in the western Afghan city of Herat.
The victims were riding in a taxi.
A spokesman of the Afghan interior ministry confirmed the attack. The spokesman said the cab driver had been detained for interrogation but the attackers had escaped.
An Afghan youth looks at the taxi in which two foreign women were gunned down by men on a motorcycle, in Herat on July 24, 2014. Two foreign female aid workers were shot dead by unknown gunmen while travelling in a taxi in the western Afghan city of Herat, officials said. Photo AFP-Lehtikuva.
The victims worked for a Christian aid organisation, International Assistance Mission (IAM).
According to the provincial authorities of Herat, the bodies of the victims are in hospital and the police have launched investigation to find out who were behind the attack.
No group so far has claimed responsibility for carrying out the killing.
Meanwhile, in an official statement, Prime Minister Alexander Stubb offered his condolence to the families and friends of the deceased.
“We are faced with a great tragedy. Now, it is important that we support the bereaved families. Finland requires that a thorough investigation be conducted to bring those guilty to justice. Finland must also reassess the security situation in Afghanistan,” said the prime minister.
