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Herat mosque blast 'kills many' in Afghanistan Herat mosque blast kills dozens in Afghanistan
(35 minutes later)
An explosion at a mosque in the Afghan city of Herat has killed at least 20 people and injured dozens more. An explosion at a mosque in the Afghan city of Herat has killed about 30 people and injured dozens more.
The blast, which struck the Jawadia mosque, coincided with evening prayers at around 20:00 local time (15:30 GMT).The blast, which struck the Jawadia mosque, coincided with evening prayers at around 20:00 local time (15:30 GMT).
One doctor told the Associated Press news agency that 20 bodies had been transported to his hospital. Officials said there were at least two attackers - one a suicide bomber, and another who shot at worshippers with a firearm.
Officials said one attacker was a suicide bomber, and a second had been armed with a rifle. Both are dead, a local police spokesperson told AFP. A spokesperson for the local governor told the BBC the death toll could rise.
Reuters also reported grenades were thrown during the attack, citing local police. He said t least 29 people had been killed, and another 64 were injured.
A spokesperson for the regional governor told the BBC that the suicide attacker had opened fire inside the mosque before detonating his explosives. Both attackers are dead, a police spokesperson told AFP news agency.
He said around 30 people had been injured and casualty numbers were likely to rise. The governor's representative said the suicide attacker also opened fire inside the mosque before detonating his explosives.
The state broadcaster in neighbouring Iran, IRIB, said at least 30 were killed and 50 injured - and reported seven gunmen were involved. The report has yet to be confirmed by local sources in Afghanistan. Reuters reported grenades were thrown, citing local police.
No group has said it was behind attack, which occurred in a predominantly Shia Muslim area. The state broadcaster in neighbouring Iran, IRIB, said that seven gunmen were involved. The report has yet to be confirmed by local sources in Afghanistan.
No group has said it was behind attack, which occurred in a predominantly Shia Muslim area. A spokesman for the Taliban, which has struck Shia mosques in the country before, condemned the attack in a text message sent to reporters.
Herat, close to the border with Iran, is considered one of Afghanistan's more peaceful cities.Herat, close to the border with Iran, is considered one of Afghanistan's more peaceful cities.
The attack there comes one day after a battle at the Iraqi embassy in the capital, Kabul, which also saw gunmen launch an assault following a suicide explosion. So-called Islamic State (IS) said it had carried out that attack.The attack there comes one day after a battle at the Iraqi embassy in the capital, Kabul, which also saw gunmen launch an assault following a suicide explosion. So-called Islamic State (IS) said it had carried out that attack.
Areas dominated by Shia Muslims in Afghanistan have been hit by attacks repeatedly in the past year, by both IS and the Taliban.Areas dominated by Shia Muslims in Afghanistan have been hit by attacks repeatedly in the past year, by both IS and the Taliban.
Many of the casualties from all walks of live have been civilians, with injury numbers rising for the past five years amid increased attacks. Many of the casualties have been civilians, with injury numbers rising for the past five years as attacks increased.
In May, a huge bombing in the centre of the city killed more than 150 people, the deadliest militant attack in the country since US-led forces ousted the Taliban from power in 2001. It is not clear what the intended target was.In May, a huge bombing in the centre of the city killed more than 150 people, the deadliest militant attack in the country since US-led forces ousted the Taliban from power in 2001. It is not clear what the intended target was.