Afghanistan: Shiite mosque blast in Mazar-i-Sharif kills many

LAST UPDATE: 15:15

At least 20 people have been killed or injured in an explosion at a Shiite mosque in the northern Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif, a local Taliban commander has said. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, according to the Telegram.

“A car bomb had exploded at an Iraqi police recruiting center at Kisak, killing at least 20 people and wounding dozens more,” Taliban spokesman Mohammad Asif Wazeri told Reuters.

A local Taliban official said at least 25 people had been killed in the blast, according to AFP. “Initial reports confirm that there were at least 25 victims,” ​​Zabihullah Nurani, head of the information and culture department in Balkh province, whose capital is Mazar-i-Sharif, told AFP.

According to Reuters, Zia Zendani, a spokesman for the regional health service, said it was estimated that five people had been killed and more than 50 injured in the blast.

The bomber struck shortly after noon in front of a school in the western city of Kabul, where most of the Shi’ite Hazaras live. The blasts killed six people and injured 11.

A resident of Mazar-i-Sharif said she was at a nearby market with her sister when she heard a large explosion and saw smoke rising over the area of ​​the Shiite mosque. “The windows of the shops were broken, there was a crowd and everyone started running,” said the woman, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Explosion in Kunduz

Eleven people have been killed or injured in an explosion in the northern Afghan city of Kunduz, a health official has said.

Najibullah Sahel, of the regional health service, said the victims had been taken to hospitals and that the number could rise, but did not give details of the exact location or cause of the blast.

With information from AMPE