Afghanistan mosque blast kills at least 18, including senior cleric

At the least 18 folks, together with a outstanding cleric, have been killed after an explosion tore by way of a crowded mosque in western Afghanistan.

Greater than 20 others had been injured within the blast within the Guzargah Mosque within the metropolis of Herat throughout Friday midday prayers, Taliban officers mentioned. There are fears that the demise toll may rise.

The explosion reportedly killed Mujib-ul Rahman Ansari, a cleric who was well-known for his criticism of the nation’s earlier Western-backed governments.

Ansari was seen as near the Taliban who seized management over the nation final yr following the withdrawal of US forces. His demise was confirmed by the chief Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid.

There was no fast declare of duty for Friday’s blast.

Earlier mosque assaults have been claimed by the so-called Islamic State (IS) extremist group, which has carried out a sequence of assaults towards non secular and ethnic minorities in Afghanistan.

Within the yr for the reason that Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, IS have attacked a number of mosques in suicide assaults throughout Friday prayers, with a give attention to focusing on Shiite Muslims.

The Herat mosque normally attracts followers of Sunni Islam, the dominant stream in Afghanistan that can also be adopted by the Taliban.

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