DM Monitoring
KABUL: An explosion outside a mosque in the Afghan capital killed “a number of civilians” on Sunday, a senior Taliban official said.
The blast struck near the entrance of the Eid Gah Mosque in Kabul, spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said on Twitter.
A prayer ceremony for Mujahid’s mother, who died last week, was being held at the mosque on Sunday afternoon, the spokesperson had written on social media on Saturday, adding “all people and friends are invited to attend”. Ahmadullah, a shopkeeper nearby, told media: “I heard the sound of an explosion near the Eid Gah Mosque followed by gun firing.
“Just ahead of the blast the Taliban had blocked the road to hold a prayer ceremony for Zabihullah Mujahid’s mother in Eid Gah Mosque.” Sounds of the blast and shooting were in two locations in the capital also heard.
Ambulances carrying the wounded were seen rushing towards Kabul’s Emergency Hospital in the Shahr-e-Naw area. The hospital said on Twitter that four patients were being treated.
The area around the mosque was cordoned off by the Taliban who maintained a heavy security presence.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. However, since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in mid-August, attacks by the militant Islamic State (IS) group against them have increased. The rise has raised the possibility of a wider conflict between the two hardline groups.
IS maintains a strong presence in the eastern province of Nangarhar and considers the Taliban an enemy. It has claimed several attacks against them, including several killings in the provincial capital of Jalalabad.
Attacks in Kabul have so far been rare, but in recent weeks IS has shown signs it is expanding its footprint beyond the east and closer toward the capital.
On Friday, Taliban fighters raided an IS hideout just north of Kabul in Parwan province. The raid came after an IS roadside bomb wounded four Taliban fighters in the area.
