At least 25 people were killed and more than 50 were injured today (Thursday) in an explosion at the largest Shiite mosque in the northern Afghan city of Mazar a-Sharif.
According to local media reports, the blast took place at 12:45 (local time) inside the Shiite mosque “Three Shops” in Mazar a-Sharif, the Reuters news agency reported, quoting a Taliban spokesman.
Zia Zandani, a spokeswoman for the regional health department determined that at least 25 people were killed and more than 50 were injured.
“Preliminary information indicates that there are at least 25 victims,” Zabihullah Nourani, head of the intelligence department at Mazar a-Sharif, told AFP but did not specify the exact number of dead and wounded.
According to the Afghan newspaper Hasht Sobh, the death toll has risen to more than 30 and so far more than 80 people have been evacuated to the hospital. The newspaper noted that before the attack on the mosque, there were two explosions in Kabul that resulted in the injury of two children.
Videos posted on social media show that the floor of the mosque is filled with glass between the victims lying on the ground.
Photo: Twitter @ MKARIMI08993902
Eyewitnesses told Reuters that the violent explosion at the scene caused windows in nearby stores to shatter and thick smoke rose from the scene.
The Shiite minority in Afghanistan has always been a target for extremist groups. Two days ago, three explosions in front of a school in a Shiite neighborhood west of Kabul killed at least nine people and injured another 50.
Although the number of terrorist incidents in Afghanistan has dropped since the Taliban came to power, ISIS in Khurasan is still carrying out attacks in the country.
In this terrorist incident as well, the terrorist organization ISIS took responsibility.
Want to write on the site or run a column?