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Kabul mosque attack: 'Many casualties feared' Afghanistan: Deadly blast rips through crowded Kabul mosque
(about 11 hours later)
A huge explosion has ripped through a mosque in the Afghan capital Kabul, police say. Kabul has seen a number of deadly attacks in recent months
The blast is thought to have occurred during evening prayers, killing at least three people and injuring dozens more, according to the NGO Emergency. A huge explosion has ripped through a crowded mosque in the Afghan capital Kabul, killing 21 people, police say.
Khalid Zadran, the Taliban's Kabul police spokesman, was quoted by local media as saying there had been an explosion in the city's north-west. Another 33 people were injured, Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran said.
Reports say the Siddiqi mosque's imam was among the dead. Wednesday's blast occurred during evening prayers. The mosque's imam is reported to be among the dead.
It is unclear who was behind the attack, which comes the week after a prominent pro-Taliban cleric was killed in a suicide bomb blast, also in Kabul. The Islamic State (IS) group claimed responsibility for the earlier attack. It is unclear who was behind the attack, a week after a prominent so-called Islamic State (IS) militants killed a pro-Taliban cleric in a suicide bomb blast, also in Kabul.
Security forces have arrived at the scene, in a northern Kabul neighbourhood, the spokesman added. IS has emerged as the most potent enemy of the Taliban, who seized control over Afghanistan last year. The two groups are now engaged in a murky and bloody battle.
Italian NGO Emergency - which operates in Kabul - said three deaths have been recorded so far. The Taliban’s secretive war against IS
The NGO also tweeted to say it had received 27 people wounded in the blast, including children. "Five children [were] among them, including a seven-year-old," it said. Security forces have now sealed off the blast scene in Kabul.
A Taliban intelligence official told news agency Reuters that as many as 35 people may have been wounded or killed, and the toll could rise further.
Witnesses described hearing a powerful explosion which shattered windows in nearby buildings.Witnesses described hearing a powerful explosion which shattered windows in nearby buildings.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the explosion took place at a mosque among worshippers in the Khair Khana area of Kabul. Stefano Sozza, the head of the Emergency NGO running the city's main hospital, told the BBC his group had treated 35 people, including children.
Intelligence teams were at the blast site and investigations are ongoing, they added. Intelligence teams said their investigation was ongoing.
A spokesman for the Taliban said it strongly condemned the attack.
IS focus seems to be wideningIS focus seems to be widening
The mosque was crowded, the bomb powerful, and another cleric seems to have been in the sights of IS (Islamic State), the group which has emerged as the Taliban's most potent enemy.The mosque was crowded, the bomb powerful, and another cleric seems to have been in the sights of IS (Islamic State), the group which has emerged as the Taliban's most potent enemy.
In the past month, three prominent religious leaders were targeted in Kabul and there were assassinations in other cities.In the past month, three prominent religious leaders were targeted in Kabul and there were assassinations in other cities.
Last week it was Sheikh Rahimullah Haqqani, known to be close to the Taliban. This time it's Amir Muhammad Kabuli, said to be an adherent of the more moderate Sufi faith.Last week it was Sheikh Rahimullah Haqqani, known to be close to the Taliban. This time it's Amir Muhammad Kabuli, said to be an adherent of the more moderate Sufi faith.
Video posted on social media showed a scene of carnage.Video posted on social media showed a scene of carnage.
One religious student who was just outside the mosque told the BBC he saw the bodies of the dead and injured sprawled inside, including children attending evening prayers.One religious student who was just outside the mosque told the BBC he saw the bodies of the dead and injured sprawled inside, including children attending evening prayers.
IS's signature has been its devastating attacks on the minority Shia Hazara community. But their focus now seems to be widening just as the Taliban celebrate their one year in power - a takeover which ended one chapter of a long bloody war but only ushered in yet another.IS's signature has been its devastating attacks on the minority Shia Hazara community. But their focus now seems to be widening just as the Taliban celebrate their one year in power - a takeover which ended one chapter of a long bloody war but only ushered in yet another.