14 dead in suicide attack at Shia mosque in Kabul

Suicide bomber detonated himself inside the mosque

KABUL: A suicide bomber detonated himself at the gate of a Shia Muslim mosque in the Afghan capital as other attackers stormed the building, killing at least 14 people as worshippers gathered for Friday prayers, officials said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but Islamic State militants have attacked minority Shia targets in Afghanistan in the past.



An official at the Ministry of Interior said there were at least 14 civilian casualties, while at least two policemen had been killed and eight wounded.

At least two bodies and 15 wounded people had been brought to city hospitals, with ambulances retrieving more casualties at the scene, said Ismail Kawosi, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Health.

Some witnesses at the scene said the attackers threw grenades, while police officials said a suicide bomber detonated himself at the gate. One witness said an attacker wearing a vest packed with explosives shot and killed the guards at the gate.

"At first a suicide bomber opened fire and martyred two security guards at the entrance of the mosque and then they entered inside," Sayed Pacha told Reuters. "Some people escaped out of the mosque including women, but there were four attackers who managed to enter the mosque."

Later explosions rocked the area, but their source was unclear.

 

#Kabul - Another explosion occurred close to Imam Zaman Mosque; gunfire continues.

— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) August 25, 2017

#Kabul - Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish confirms attack on Imam Zaman Mosque. He says Police Special Unit have entered the mosque.

— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) August 25, 2017

#Kabul - Eyewitnesses say the attackers used hand grenades when they first entered the mosque in Qala-e-Najarha area.

— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) August 25, 2017