Unknown gunmen shot dead a 23-year-old man in Mazar-e-Sharif on Saturday night after he refused to hand over his motorcycle, local police confirmed. 

Ali Reza, who worked at Mazar-e-Sharif’s airport, in Balkh province, was reportedly stopped by the gunmen at about 9pm, police said. 

The incident happened in PD1 in Mazar, said a spokesman for the provincial police chief, Shirjan Durani. 

He said the gunmen “wanted to rob him of his motorbike but the man refused to hand over his motorbike.” 

“The unknown gunmen escaped from the area but a search operation has started,” Durani said.

However, he did not provide further details.

Crime has increased sharply in Mazar in recent months and in the past 16 days alone, five people have been gunned down in the city. 

A few weeks ago, Hameed Safut, who heads Balkh’s civil society group, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the security of Mazar-e-Sharif had deteriorated considerably this year. 

Armed robberies, murder, clashes and kidnappings have increased in Mazar, he said, linking the uptick in insecurity to the presence of unauthorized gunmen.