Blast at Afghan mosque kills cleric, civilians: police

ISKP takes responsibility for blast at Guzargah mosque that killed Molvi Mujib Ansari

HERAT:

A blast outside a mosque in the city of Herat in western Afghanistan on Friday killed a high-profile pro-Taliban cleric as well as civilians, police said.

"Mujib Rahman Ansari, with some of his guards and civilians, have been killed on their way toward the mosque," said Herat's police spokesperson Mahmood Rasoli.

Rasoli did not say how many casualties the blast caused.

Reports said the militant Islamic State's Khorasan branch (IS-K) has taken responsibility for the blast.

Al Jazeera Media Network, citing unnamed sources, said 14 people had been killed.

Mujib Rahman Ansari had spoken strongly in defence of the Taliban at a large gathering of thousands of scholars and elders organised by the group in late June, condemning anyone who stood against their administration.

The Taliban say they have improved security in the country since taking power around a year ago, but there have been several blasts in recent months, some of them targeting busy mosques during prayers.

According to an Afghan journalist, a 'high' number of casualties was caused by the explosion.

Video — After the explosion in Gezargah mosque in Herat.

The casualties of this explosion are very high.

Mujib Rahman Ansari a radical cleric close to Taliban was also reported killed in this explosion.#Herat #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/WTMy2HOsja

— Mohammad Natiq | محمد ناطق (@natiqmalikzada) September 2, 2022

Afghan news agency TOLOnews said that Ansari was killed at the Guzargah mosque where he was the imam. No official statements have been made by the incumbent Taliban government.

Local sources said a blast occurred in Guzargah mosque in Herat province and Mawlawi Mujeeb Rahman Ansari, the imam of the mosque, was killed. There have been no official statements yet. pic.twitter.com/yNKQqjlIFq

— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) September 2, 2022