Afghanistan mosque blast kills at the very least 18, together with senior cleric

No less than 18 individuals, together with a distinguished cleric, have been killed after an explosion tore by means of a crowded mosque in western Afghanistan.

Greater than 20 others have been injured within the blast within the Guzargah Mosque within the metropolis of Herat throughout Friday midday prayers, Taliban officers mentioned. There are fears that the demise toll might rise.

The explosion reportedly killed Mujib-ul Rahman Ansari, a cleric who was well-known for his criticism of the nation’s earlier Western-backed governments.

Ansari was seen as near the Taliban who seized management over the nation final 12 months following the withdrawal of US forces. His demise was confirmed by the chief Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid.

There was no instant declare of accountability for Friday’s blast.

Earlier mosque assaults have been claimed by the so-called Islamic State (IS) extremist group, which has carried out a collection of assaults in opposition to spiritual and ethnic minorities in Afghanistan.

Within the 12 months because the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, IS have attacked a number of mosques in suicide assaults throughout Friday prayers, with a deal with concentrating on Shiite Muslims.

The Herat mosque often attracts followers of Sunni Islam, the dominant stream in Afghanistan that can also be adopted by the Taliban.