Explosion Kills Dozens During Friday Prayers

Dozens of people have been killed after a suicide bomber stormed a mosque in Afghanistan’s Northeastern city of Kunduz during Friday prayers.

Gatekeepers News reports that the explosion killed or wounded over 100 people, according to the United Nations’ mission to Afghanistan.

Deputy Police Chief for Kunduz province, Dost Mohammad Obaida also confirmed that no fewer than 100 people were killed or wounded in the attack, adding that the “majority of them have been killed”.

“I assure our Shia brothers that the Taliban are prepared to ensure their safety,” said Obaida who noted that an investigation was underway.

According to reports, the blast blew out windows, charred the ceiling and scattered debris and twisted metal across the floor.

Gatekeepers News reports that an ISIL affiliate in the region has claimed responsibility for the attack and identified the bomber as a Uighur Muslim. The group said the attack targeted both Shias and the Taliban for their purported willingness to expel Uighurs to meet demands from China.

The statement was carried by the ISIL-linked Aamaq news agency.

The worshippers targeted in Friday’s attack were Hazaras, who have long suffered from double discrimination as an ethnic minority and as followers of Shia Islam in a majority Sunni country.