An explosion outside a mosque in the western Afghan city of Herat today killed at least 18 people, including a prominent cleric close to the Taliban, in what authorities said was an attack.
“Eighteen people were killed and 23 injured,” interior ministry spokesman Abdul Nafi Thakor told Reuters.
Herat police spokesman Mahmoud Rasoli said Mujib Rahman Ansari — the cleric — was among the dead along with some of his bodyguards and civilians as they were on their way to the mosque for Friday prayers.
Al Jazeera television, citing unnamed sources, reported that 28 people were killed and 45 wounded.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid tweeted his “deepest condolences” for Ansari’s death and said the perpetrators would be punished.
Mujib Rahman Ansari had spoken highly of the Taliban at a large gathering of thousands of scholars and elders organized by the movement in late June and condemned those who were against them.
The Taliban claim to have improved security in the country since taking power about a year ago, but in recent months there have been several explosions, some of which have targeted crowded mosques during prayers.
The United Nations has expressed concern over the increasing number of attacks, some of which have been claimed by a local Islamic State arm.
So far there has been no claim of responsibility for the explosion.
Source: Capital
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