International Shia News Agency
Asia-Pacific

Deadly blast leaves 29 martyrs at Shia mosque in Herat

SHAFAQNA – At least 29 dead and more than 60 wounded in a powerful explosion inside a mosque belonging to Shia Muslims in western Afghanistan.

The deadly bomb attack was carried out in the city of Herat, the capital of a province with the same name, late on Tuesday.

Mohammad Asif Rahimi, governor of Herat, said at least 29 people were killed and 64 wounded in the incident which came two months after an attack on a 12th-century mosque known as the Jama Masjid in Herat, in which seven people died.

“Two attackers entered the mosque and started shooting and throwing grenades at people,” said Mohammad Adi, a worshipper at the mosque who was injured in the attack and taken to hospital.

Mohammad Asif Rahimi, governor of Herat, said at least 29 people were killed and 64 wounded in the incident which came two months after an attack on a 12th-century mosque known as the Jama Masjid in Herat, in which seven people died.

This incident reportedly happened in Jawadiah mosque while Tawassol prayer was reciting.

There was no claim of responsibility. The Taliban withing condemning the attack denied any involvement.

Ghani, whose government has been under mounting pressure because of deteriorating security across the country, condemned the bombing and called on religious scholars to “raise their voices against the terrorist attacks”.

Shia Muslims have remained a constant target of militant attacks across various parts of the country over the past few months.

On July 24, over two dozen people were killed and more than 40 wounded after a car bomb attack claimed by the Taliban struck a bus transporting government employees through a Shia neighborhood in the capital Kabul. The bus was struck as it passed through a busy area of the city that is home to many Shia Hazara Muslims, a persecuted ethnic community.

Also in mid-June this year, Takfiri terrorists killed several people and wounded several others in a bomb attack at a Shia mosque in Kabul. The casualties were caused after an assailant detonated his explosives when he was prevented from entering al-Zahra mosque in western Kabul. The Daesh Takfiri terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack.

In November 2016, a bomber blown himself up inside a Shia mosque in Kabul, killing at least 27 people and wounding dozens of others. The explosion happened at the Baqir-ul-uloom mosque in the Darul Aman area as people gathered for a religious ceremony.

One year ago, a massive bomb blast killed at least 84 people, most of them Shia Hazara, as they were holding a rally to demand better life conditions.

Afghanistan is still suffering from insecurity and violence years after the United States and its allies invaded the country in 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. The invasion removed the Taliban from power, but militancy still rages on in the country.

In recent months, Daesh has been making inroads in Afghanistan through alliances with local militant outfits.

Source – ABNA

Related posts

Afghanistan: Universities still closed to girls after over 450 days

leila yazdani

Afghanistan: Over 250 schools in Herat ‘unusable’ due to earthquake damage

leila yazdani

Tireless efforts of Afghan women not to surrender to the conditions imposed by Taliban

leila yazdani

Afghanistan: Businesswomen-Traders suffer from absence of Nowruz programs in Balkh Province

leila yazdani

UNICEF: Over 1.4 million girls in Afghanistan deprived of going to school

nasibeh yazdani

Afghanistan: As new academic year begins 1.4 million female students deprived of education

anvari

Leave a Comment