Suicide Attacks on Mosques Kill 72 People in Afghanistan

Islamabad, MINA – At least 72 people were killed and over 65 others wounded in two separate suicide attacks targeting mosques in Afghanistan’s capital city Kabul and Ghor province on Friday night, KUNA reported, citing officials.

Afghan Ministry of Interior spokesman Najib Danish confirmed that at least 39 people were killed and 45 wounded in the Imam Zaman Mosque attack in Dasht-e-Barchi in Kabul city. All the victims were civilians and included women and children, he added.

The suicide bomber entered the mosque and opened fire at worshippers before blowing himself up. Security forces cordoned off the area immediately after the explosion. The death toll is feared to rise as condition of many people is reported critical.

Separately, around 33 people were killed and 20 others wounded in an attack on Friday night when a suicide bomber blew himself up in a mosque in Afghanistan’s central Ghor province.

A spokesman for the provincial police, Mohammad Iqbal Nezami told media that at least 33 people were killed in the bombing that appeared to target a local commander.

A former regional commander and Jamiat party leader who had sided with the government, Abdul Ahed appeared to be the target and was also killed along with his seven guards in the attack, said the official.

According to local media, so-called Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility of both the attacks. Afghan President, Ashraf Ghani in a statement condemned the attacks on Kabul and Ghor mosques and called them inhuman and against the values of Islam.

The president said the attacks were aimed at creating division among the people, adding that these nefarious acts will not yield any result and will not affect the unity of Afghans.

The attacks came at a time when a series of attacks this week targeting Afghan security forces have killed over 130 people, mostly security personnel, and wounded 300 others across Afghanistan. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)