Islamic state claims responsibility for Kabul mosque attack

Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility for Friday’s attack on a Shi’ite Muslim mosque in the Afghan capital Kabul that killed 20 people, the Sunni militant group’s Amaq news agency said.

Mohammad Kawoosi, a spokesman for the Ministry of Public Health, said 40 others were injured, including women and children.

The number of casualty may rise as the transportation of victims still continues, Kawoosi added.

The insurgents had stormed a Shiite mosque in Kabul during Friday prayer when the mosque was full.

“IS fighters launched an attack on a (Shi’ite mosque) in the Khair Khana area in the Afghan city of Kabul,” the agency said.

A suicide bomber detonated himself at the gate of a Shi’ite Muslim mosque in the Afghan capital as other attackers stormed the building.

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.

“Some people escaped out of the mosque including women, but there were four attackers who managed to enter the mosque,” Sayed Pacha told Reuters.

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