Fear of many victims after explosion in mosque in Kabul

A mosque in the Afghan capital Kabul was hit by a heavy explosion during evening prayers on Wednesday evening. Witnesses and the local police report this to Reuters news agency and is confirmed by a spokesperson for the Taliban. The police speak of several victims, but cannot yet name numbers.

Someone from the Taliban told Reuters that 35 people have been killed so far, but that the number of victims could rise. An Al Jazeera source speaks of 20 dead. The imam of the mosque is also said to be among the dead. Emergency NGO, an aid organization in Kabul that provides medical care, speaks up Twitter of 27 injured, including five children.

Responsibility for the attack has not yet been claimed. The Taliban, who have been back in power for a year, claim to have brought back security in Afghanistan, but there are regular attacks in the country. These are usually claimed by the terrorist group Islamic State, the rival of the Taliban.

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