Senior Taliban officials said Sunday at least two people were killed in an explosion outside a mosque in the Afghan capital.
The blast occurred near the entrance of the Badi Idgah mosque in Kabul, spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Twitter, killing “several civilians”.
Interior Ministry spokesman Qari Syed Khosti said AFP: “Our preliminary information suggests that two civilians were killed and three were injured in the explosion.”
A prayer ceremony for the Mujahid’s mother, who died last week, was being held at the mosque on Sunday afternoon, with the spokesperson writing on social media on Saturday: “All people and friends are invited to attend “
A nearby shopkeeper Ahmadullah told AFP: “I heard an explosion near the Eid Gah mosque and shots were fired after that.
“Just before the explosion, the Taliban blocked a road at the Idgah mosque to hold a prayer ceremony for the mother of Zabihullah Mujahid.”
AFP Journalists also heard explosions and firing at two places in the capital.
Ambulances carrying the injured were seen running towards the emergency hospital in Kabul in the Shahar-e-Nawa area. The hospital said on Twitter that four patients are undergoing treatment.
The medical staff was waiting outside. AFP Journalists saw people arriving in blood-stained clothes.
The area around the mosque was cordoned off by the Taliban and tight security arrangements were made.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. However, since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in mid-August, attacks against them by the militant Islamic State (IS) group have increased. The escalation has raised the prospect of a wider conflict between the two radical groups.
IS maintains a strong presence in the eastern province of Nangarhar and considers the Taliban an enemy. It has claimed several attacks against him, including several murders in the provincial capital. Jalalabad.
Attacks in Kabul have so far been rare, but in recent weeks IS has indicated it is expanding its footprint beyond the east and towards the capital. Taliban fighters on Friday Raids on ISIS hideout Just north of Kabul in Parwan Province. The raid came after an IS roadside bomb injured four Taliban fighters in the area.
.