An explosion outside a Kabul mosque has left “a number of civilians” dead, the Taliban confirmed on Sunday. The blast struck near the entrance of the Eid Gah Mosque, AFP reported.
The bomb targeted the mosque as a memorial service was being held for the late mother of Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, AP reported. The Eid Gah mosque is the second-largest in Kabul and is Afghanistan’s cardinal religious mosque.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in mid-August, there has been an increase in attacks by the Islamic State—which opposes the Taliban in Afghanistan—including a car bombing attack on Taliban personnel in Jalalabad.
The Islamic State of Khorasan had claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on the Kabul Airport in August that left over 180 dead including several US military personnel, during the chaotic evacuation of thousands of Western personnel and Afghan allies as the US scrambled to leave the country by its agreed-upon deadline.
At least two people have been reported killed, and three injured, with the Taliban's interior ministry stating that five "casualties" had been recorded due to the blast. BBC Pashto reported that eight people had been killed and at least 20 wounded by the blast.
Saeed Khosti, a spokesman for the interior ministry, said three people were arrested in connection with the attac
