Asia

Asia

20 people killed in explosion inside Shiite Muslim mosque in Afghanistan

01 August 2017 18:43 (UTC +04:00)

At least 20 people have been killed, and 30 people have been wounded in an explosion inside a Shiite Muslim mosque in western Herat, an Afghan hospital official said Tuesday, APA reports quoting Al-Jazeera.

The blast, which struck the Jawadia mosque, coincided with evening prayers.

One doctor told the Associated Press news agency that 20 bodies had been transported to his hospital.

A spokesman for the interior ministry, speaking to the AFP agency, confirmed only "ten wounded", but said the explosion may have been "caused by a car bomb".
Other local reports suggested a combined explosion and gunfire attack. Tolo News quoted officials as saying that a second attacker had opened fire on worshippers inside the mosque after the initial explosion.

Local officials say that the death toll is expected to rise.

No group has said it was behind attack, which occurred in a predominantly Shia Muslim area.

Herat, on the border with Iran, is considered one of the most peaceful cities of Afghanistan.