An explosion ripped through a mosque in northern Afghanistan, killing and wounding dozens of people at Friday prayers in Kunduz province.
The cause and the number of casualties were not immediately clear. Hospital sources told AFP news agency that at least 50 people were killed. Meanwhile, a Taliban police official put the casualty toll at 100 dead and wounded, the Associated Press reported.
“This afternoon, an explosion took place in a mosque of our Shia compatriots … as a result of which a number of our compatriots were martyred and wounded,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Twitter, adding that a special unit was arriving at the scene to investigate.
The United Nations mission in Afghanistan said initial reports pointed to a suicide blast. “Today’s incident is part of a disturbing pattern of violence: 3rd deadly attack this week apparently targeting a religious institution,” it said on Twitter. (WithInputsfrom Washington Post)