Kabul: The death from multiple blasts inside a mosque in Kandahar city in Afghanistan reached 41 while more than 70 were left wounded, Agence France-Presse reported. Afghan's official Bakhtar News Agency had reported that the explosions took place inside the Bibi Fatima Shia Mosque in the police district one, during Friday prayers.
At least four assailants were reportedly involved in the gruesome attacks while the number of casualties might rise further as many of the injured were in critical condition, Xinhua news agency reported.
Reuters reported that Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing through their statement aired on their Amaq news agency. According to the statement, two IS fighters gunned down guards in the mosque, marched in and blasted themselves. There were two groups of worshippers inside the mosque, and one consisted of around 300 people.
IANS reported quoting witness accounts from TOLO News that there were three back-to-back explosions, and it was one of the biggest attacks in Kandahar city.
The Taliban government condemned the attack and called it a major crime. The United Nations Assistance Mission for Afghanistan said that those behind the blasts should be brought to justice.
Friday's attack came precisely after a week when another Shia Mosque in Kunduz city was blasted by a suicide bombing, claiming 50 lives. IS-K, a local branch of the Islamic State, claimed responsibility. The attack was the deadliest since the United States withdrew its troops from the country.
The IS-affiliated groups in recent weeks unleashed a series of bombings. A Taliban district police chief was killed, and 11 people were injured when a vehicle came under attack in Kunar province, Afghanistan.