Suicide attack on mosque kills 30, wounds 50 people in Afghanistan

Afghans flee the site of an attack on a Shiite Muslim mosque in Kabul during Friday prayers.

 

ISLAMABAD, Aug 25 (KUNA) — At least 30 people were killed and over 50 others wounded in a coordinated suicide attack targeting a mosque in Afghanistan’s capital city Kabul on Friday, KUNAreported, citing officials.

A health ministry official, Mohammad Ismail Kawoosi confirmed to media that at least 30 people were killed and over 50 others wounded in the attack.

The suicide and gun attack on Imam Zaman Mosque, belonging to the Shia sect in the north of Kabul, continued for almost five hours at a time when around 200 worshippers, including women, were busy in Friday prayers.

Three or four attackers entered the mosque after killing two security guards and wounding two others by throwing hand grenades at them in the entrance of the mosque.

The Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish confirming the attack said the Crisis Response Unit of the Afghan National Police arrived at the attack scene sharply after it happened.

He said police rescued more than 100 worshippers who were caught in the fight between security forces and the attackers.

Afghan President, Ashraf Ghani in a statement condemned the attack and called it a crime against the people of Afghanistan.

The president called on Afghan religious scholars to raise their voice against such violent acts carried by “terrorists”, said the Presidential Palace.

According to local media, so-called Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the deadly attack.
Earlier this month, at least 29 people were killed and dozens others were wounded in an attack on Jawadia Mosque in Herat city of western Afghanistan. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)