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Afghanistan mosque suicide bomb attack kills at least 41 | Afghanistan mosque suicide bomb attack kills at least 41 |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A suicide bomber targeted worshippers who had gathered at a mosque in north Afghanistan for prayers to mark Eid al-Adha, killing at least 41 people. | A suicide bomber targeted worshippers who had gathered at a mosque in north Afghanistan for prayers to mark Eid al-Adha, killing at least 41 people. |
More than 50 people were wounded in the attack, which happened as people were leaving the Eid Gah mosque in Maymana, capital of Faryab province. | |
Senior provincial government and police officials attended the prayers, but appeared to escape serious injury. | Senior provincial government and police officials attended the prayers, but appeared to escape serious injury. |
The victims were mainly police officers and civilians. | |
This attack in Maymana, the provincial capital of Faryab, exposes a number of serious concerns about the security situation there. | |
There is a widespread perception that Faryab is a very peaceful province, but recent developments are telling. There have been a number of assassinations of tribal elders recently in Maymana. Nato forces have also conducted frequent night raids targeting the Taliban and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan militant group (IMU). | |
The groups work in concert in Faryab and analysts believe they are behind this latest attack. The province's security elite was gathered in the mosque - they appear to have been the target of this blast. | |
It is an indication that the militants do not intend to back down; Faryab is an important recruiting ground for the IMU and the Taliban are willing to help them as they try to expand their influence in the north. | |
Officials said that 14 civilians and six children were among the dead. | |
"We had just finished Eid al-Adha prayers and we were congratulating and hugging each other," deputy provincial governor Abdul Satar Barez told the AFP news agency. | "We had just finished Eid al-Adha prayers and we were congratulating and hugging each other," deputy provincial governor Abdul Satar Barez told the AFP news agency. |
"Suddenly a big explosion took place and the area was full of dust and smoke and body parts of police and civilians were all over the place. It was a very powerful explosion." | "Suddenly a big explosion took place and the area was full of dust and smoke and body parts of police and civilians were all over the place. It was a very powerful explosion." |
One survivor told the BBC that the attacker had used potent explosives and ball bearings inside his suicide jacket to cause maximum casualties. | |
Mr Barez said senior police and government officials had been the target, but were inside the mosque at the time so escaped the force of the blast. | |
Shafi Bekoghlu, a BBC Uzbek reporter based in Maymana, said he had been due to go to the mosque but was running late so went to a different mosque for Eid prayers. | Shafi Bekoghlu, a BBC Uzbek reporter based in Maymana, said he had been due to go to the mosque but was running late so went to a different mosque for Eid prayers. |
"Just as I got home, I heard a very loud explosion. I rushed to the hospital and saw lots of cars, police cars and ambulances - carrying bodies in," he said, adding that police fired warning shots into the air to prevent people entering the hospital. | "Just as I got home, I heard a very loud explosion. I rushed to the hospital and saw lots of cars, police cars and ambulances - carrying bodies in," he said, adding that police fired warning shots into the air to prevent people entering the hospital. |
"I went back to the hospital a couple of hours later and saw the bodies of policemen lined up." | "I went back to the hospital a couple of hours later and saw the bodies of policemen lined up." |
Doctors told the BBC that a number of the injured were in a critical condition. | |
One prominent tribal elder who survived the blast said the attacker was wearing police uniform and was not searched by members of the security forces, the BBC's Bilal Sarwary reports. | |
He managed to breach several layers of security, 50m from the provincial governor's office. | |
Intelligence reports prior to the attack had suggested insurgents wanted to target the Eid Gah mosque, in the heart of Maymana, our correspondent adds. | |
Attacks in northern Afghanistan are far less common than in the south and east, and Faryab province has been considered to be relatively peaceful. | Attacks in northern Afghanistan are far less common than in the south and east, and Faryab province has been considered to be relatively peaceful. |
However, there have been a spate of assassinations in Maymana in recent days, our correspondent says. | However, there have been a spate of assassinations in Maymana in recent days, our correspondent says. |
A senior former Taliban commander, who had defected to the government side, was killed along with his son, as well as a number of very prominent tribal elders seen to be giving crucial support to the government. | |
Friday's attack came as Afghan President Hamid Karzai urged the Taliban to stop "killing their people and destroying their mosques, hospitals and schools" and join the peace process. | Friday's attack came as Afghan President Hamid Karzai urged the Taliban to stop "killing their people and destroying their mosques, hospitals and schools" and join the peace process. |
"They can run for any position they want... if they want to join the government they are welcome," Mr Karzai said of the insurgents in his Eid al-Adha message. | "They can run for any position they want... if they want to join the government they are welcome," Mr Karzai said of the insurgents in his Eid al-Adha message. |
Are you in Maymana? Did you witness the incident or do you know people affected by it? Please contact the BBC using the form below. | Are you in Maymana? Did you witness the incident or do you know people affected by it? Please contact the BBC using the form below. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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