Suicide blast at Afghanistan mosque kills at least 26 gathered to pray

Victims part of the Afghan security forces


Reuters November 24, 2018
PHOTO: REUTERS

KABUL: A suicide blast at a mosque in an army base in eastern Afghanistan on Friday killed at least 26 people and wounded 50, security officials in the area said, although there was no immediate claim of responsibility.

One security official said the victims had gathered for Friday prayers at the mosque in the Ismail Khel district of Khost province.

Prominent Afghan militia commander among four killed in suicide attack

All those killed in the suicide attack were working for the Afghan security forces, said Captain Abdullah, a military spokesperson in Khost, who goes by only one name.

The Taliban, who are waging a war to oust the Western-backed Afghan government and expel foreign forces from Afghanistan, have launched a series of high-profile attacks against Afghan security forces in recent weeks.

Hundreds of Afghan security guards have been killed, their checkpoints destroyed and weapons seized by the militant fighters.

US 'war on terror' has killed 500,000 people in Pak, Afghanistan and Iraq: study

Friday’s attack came three days after a suicide bomber detonated his explosives at a gathering of religious scholars in Kabul, the capital.

Officials said 55 scholars marking the birthday of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) were killed and more than 90 injured in the blast in a banquet hall.

COMMENTS

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ