Two explosions at a demonstration by members of the country's mainly Shi'ite Hazara minority killed at least 80 people with hundreds injured.
Family, friends and supporters of the Hazara community in New South Wales have gathered for an emotional vigil.
20 year old medical student Farida Yawary says for her, the attack is personal, claiming the lives of two close relatives.
"Two brothers - one of them was 35 years old, the other was 30 years old - they were just studying in Kabul and they took part in the protest and the next thing you hear is they were identified. There were like 80 people killed but the ones that so far identified were some of my relatives. There could be more but that's the only two we found out that's close to mine."
Ms Yawary says she's devastated.
"It's like all of a sudden hearing the news that the bomb blast took place and especially when you find out that your relative is involved and they were martyred in that place and thousands of civilians, just innocent civilians trying to protest for something that we've been discriminated against for so long .. and still the end result is they kill you. So I don't know how to process it in my mind right now .. I'm just in a state of shock."
New South Wales Hazara community spokesman Arif Nabizada says people are reaching out to determine who's been injured or killed.
"Everyone is making phone calls trying to talk to their relatives and friends, their family, to make sure that they are safe and not being affected or not being in the thing (explosion) but there were so many people that were there in the protest and I can give you a few Australian residents as well - one of them that I personally know - that he was on the protest and he was constantly trying to post videos and feedback and photos of the protesters just before the blast."
Ms Yawary says the impact is being felt right across Australia.
She says all Hazara people in the country have been touched by the tragedy.
"What about the 80 people, what about the others who are injured - everyones relative. It could be someones brother, someones father and all the Hazara communities are shaken by this. Everyone is devastated, everyone doesn't know what's happening and the Hazara community in Australia and across the world are very shaken by this."
Mr Nabizada says it's important for the community to raise its voice .. and let people in Australia know what's been happening in Afghanistan.
He says he believes they've been discriminated against by the government, politicians and other groups.
"Everyday being killed - targeted by ISIS, by the Taliban - every single day and that is why people are migrating to a safer place like Australia - making Australia home, coming to Australia and that is why we're trying to raise our voice, that when we're coming to Australia, we are not an economic migrant, we are a victim of terrorism, we are a victim of our politicians, our warlords in Afghanistan and that's why people are escaping Afghanistan every day."
Holding candles and embracing those directly affected, Ms Yawary says she hopes the vigil has raised broader awareness of their plight.
She says greater understanding and help is needed.
"Families are destroyed. Their happiness is gone and it's just very disturbing right now for every single person and it doesn't matter where you live. We live here (Australia), we still think about there and it's only sadness that comes."
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