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| Afghanistan Kabul mosque suicide attack kills dozens | Afghanistan Kabul mosque suicide attack kills dozens |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A suicide bomber has killed at least 27 people at a Shia Muslim mosque in the Afghan capital, Kabul. | A suicide bomber has killed at least 27 people at a Shia Muslim mosque in the Afghan capital, Kabul. |
| Many more were wounded in the blast at an annual Shia ceremony at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the west of the city. | Many more were wounded in the blast at an annual Shia ceremony at the Baqir ul Olum mosque in the west of the city. |
| The attacker arrived on foot and blew himself up among worshippers inside. | The attacker arrived on foot and blew himself up among worshippers inside. |
| So-called Islamic State (IS) said that it was behind the blast. It is the latest of several recent attacks on Afghanistan's Shia community claimed by the Sunni Muslim militant group. | So-called Islamic State (IS) said that it was behind the blast. It is the latest of several recent attacks on Afghanistan's Shia community claimed by the Sunni Muslim militant group. |
| Monday's bombing took place at 12:30 local time (08:00 GMT) during a service to commemorate the death of Imam Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad's grandson and a Shia martyr. | Monday's bombing took place at 12:30 local time (08:00 GMT) during a service to commemorate the death of Imam Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad's grandson and a Shia martyr. |
| Sunnis and Shia: Islam's ancient schism | Sunnis and Shia: Islam's ancient schism |
| Eyewitnesses said the service was almost over when the bomb was detonated. | Eyewitnesses said the service was almost over when the bomb was detonated. |
| Police gave the figure of 27 dead, but the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said 32 were killed and more than 50 injured. Some reports suggest a higher number of wounded. | Police gave the figure of 27 dead, but the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said 32 were killed and more than 50 injured. Some reports suggest a higher number of wounded. |
| IS said the attack was carried out by an IS "fighter" but gave no other details on its self-styled Amaq news agency. | IS said the attack was carried out by an IS "fighter" but gave no other details on its self-styled Amaq news agency. |
| "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. | "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." |
| 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." | 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." |
| Local reports suggested children were among the dead. | Local reports suggested children were among the dead. |
| There has not been a proper census for more than 40 years, but it is estimated that around 20% of the Afghan population are Shia Muslims - the rest are Sunni. Most Shia Muslims come from the Tajik and Hazara ethnic minorities. | There has not been a proper census for more than 40 years, but it is estimated that around 20% of the Afghan population are Shia Muslims - the rest are Sunni. Most Shia Muslims come from the Tajik and Hazara ethnic minorities. |
| They have been spared levels of sectarian violence seen in Pakistan and Iraq, but they have been targeted at least three times in recent months: | They have been spared levels of sectarian violence seen in Pakistan and Iraq, but they have been targeted at least three times in recent months: |
| All three attacks were claimed by IS. | All three attacks were claimed by IS. |
| Groups affiliated to IS, present in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar along the Pakistan border, seem intent on fomenting sectarian violence, says the BBC's Harun Najafizada in Kabul. | |
| What is really worrying is that fragile national unity now seems to be targeted, with possibly devastating results if such attacks continue, our correspondent adds. | |
| Taliban militants were quick to distance themselves from Monday's attack. | Taliban militants 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". | 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". | 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." | "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." |