- IS militants claim responsibility for latest attack
At least 14 people have been killed and injured after gunmen attacked a mosque in the Afghan capital on Friday.
A blast was reportedly followed by gunfire as worshipers gathered for Friday prayers at the mosque in Qala-Najara. The Islamic cleric who performed the prayer service has been killed, as well as a security guard outside, according to initial reports. Mir Hussain Nasiri, a member of Shia clerical council, said that the gunmen have taken over the portion of the mosque with the separate prayer areas for men and women.
Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said that after the blast at the Imam Zaman mosque in the Qala-Najara neighbourhood, three gunmen entered and began shooting. Police official Mohammed Jamil said that the Afghan security forces have surrounded the mosque but were not advancing or pushing into it to prevent more casualties. Islamic State militants have claimed responsibility for the attack.
“We were here, people were waiting for prayers to start, a suicide attacker came and killed the guards and fired on the other guard at the gate and killed him, then entered the mosque,” said Ghulam Reza, an eyewitness. Mir Nasiri said that the cleric who was performing the prayers was killed, but did not give his name. It’s a residential area. There are lots of high rises and the mosque is on a street which is usually very busy.