Taliban targets Shiite mosque in Afghanistan; kills at least 40 people with cowardly attacking worshippers

NewsBharati    04-Aug-2018
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Kabul, August 4: At least 40 people were killed and 70 others were injured after a suicide bomb blast hit a Shiite mosque in eastern Afghanistan. Immediately after the blast, Taliban terror outfit claimed the responsibility of the coward act. 

Notably, two burqa-clad terrorists carrying rifles stormed into the Khawaja Hassan (Shiite) mosque in the city of Gardez in the province of Paktia and started shooting at worshippers before detonating their explosives. The attack happened when hundreds of people were gathered to offer prayers in the mosque. Therefore, the death toll went high as at least 40 people were killed and dozens more were injured.

Afghan authorities rushed the spot and transported the all injured to nearby hospitals. However, hospital authorities said that the fatalities can be increased as many are in critically injured. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani condemned the attack, calling it "inhumane". He said Afghans will not be divided by sectarian violence.

On June 12 this year 33 people were killed including security personnel and dozen others were injured after the multiple bomb blasts hit different parts of Afghanistan. The attack was claimed by most dangerous terrorist organization Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL). Last month, 19 people including 13 from the Sikh Community were killed in Kart-e-Parwan area of Kabul.

According to the United Nations, a total of 1,692 people have been killed in the first half of 2018, with another 3,430 people wounded - the highest figure since it began keeping records in 2009.