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Afghanistan Kabul mosque suicide attack kills dozens Afghanistan Kabul mosque suicide attack kills dozens
(about 1 hour later)
A suicide bomber has killed at least 27 people in a suicide attack inside a Shia Muslim mosque in the Afghan capital, Kabul, police say. A suicide bomber has killed at least 27 people at a Shia Muslim mosque in the Afghan capital Kabul, police say.
Another 35 were wounded in the blast at the Baqir ul Olum mosque. At least 35 more people were wounded in the blast at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the west of the city.
The attacker was on foot and blew himself up among crowds inside the building, officials said. The attack came as worshippers gathered for a religious ceremony.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility but it comes amid mounting sectarian attacks on Afghanistan's Shia community. It is not yet clear who was behind the blast but Afghanistan's Shia have faced a series of sectarian attacks in recent months claimed by the Islamic State (IS) Sunni Muslim militant group.
This latest bombing took place during a service to commemorate the death of Imam Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad's grandson and Shia martyr. Monday's bombing took place during a service to commemorate the death of Imam Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad's grandson and Shia martyr.
According to eyewitnesses, the service was almost over when the bomb was detonated on the first floor. Sunnis and Shia: Islam's ancient schism
"I was inside the mosque and the Mullah was reading the prayer," Ewaz Ali, 50 who suffered minor injuries, told the Associated Press news agency. Officials said the attacker was on foot and blew himself up among crowds inside the building. Eyewitnesses said the service was almost over when the bomb was detonated.
"I was inside the mosque and the Mullah was reading the prayer," Ewaz Ali, 50, who suffered minor injuries, told the Associated Press news agency.
"Suddenly a huge explosion happened, then everywhere was dark.""Suddenly a huge explosion happened, then everywhere was dark."
Local reports suggest there are children among the dead. Another worshipper, Nadir Ali, told AFP news agency the blast had created a cloud of dust: "When the dust settled down, I saw the mosque was full of flesh and blood. I was injured in my waist and had to crawl out of the mosque."
Afghan government chief executive Abdullah Abdullah took to Twitter to urge the country not to fall victim to "enemy plots that divide us by titles". Local reports suggested children were among the dead.
"This attack targeted innocent civilians - including children - in a holy place." he said. "It is a war crime and an act against Islam & humanity." Shia, who make up about 15% of the population of Afghanistan, have been spared levels of sectarian violence seen in Pakistan and Iraq.
Shia, who make up about 15% of the population of Afghanistan, have been spared the levels of sectarian violence seen by Pakistan and Iraq. But they have been targeted at least three times in recent months:
But Shia groups have been targeted at least three times in recent months, including in a gun attack on a shrine in Kabul in October and a blast during a Shia protest march in July, which left 80 dead. All three attacks were claimed by IS.
They have all been claimed by so-called Islamic State, the Sunni Muslim militant group. Taliban militants were quick to distance themselves from Monday's attack.
Taliban militants, who are seeking to reimpose Islamic rule in Afghanistan, were quick to distance themselves from Monday's attack.
"We condemn this blast," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told the BBC. "This act cannot be our work and has nothing to do with us.""We condemn this blast," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told the BBC. "This act cannot be our work and has nothing to do with us."
President Ashraf Ghani called the attack an attempt "to sow seeds of discord".
Afghan government Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah urged the country not to fall victim to "enemy plots that divide us by titles".
"This attack targeted innocent civilians - including children - in a holy place," he said via Twitter. "It is a war crime and an act against Islam & humanity."