Deadly blasts target two mosques in separate regions of Afghanistan

World Today

Friday prayer services in Afghanistan turned deadly, with more than 60 worshipers killed in two separate attacks on mosques.

CGTN’s Toby Muse reports.

Follow Toby Muse on Twitter @tobymuse

A suicide bomber killed at least 30 people and injured 45 others in a Shiite mosque in the Afghan capital Kabul. The country’s interior ministry said the bomber walked into the Imam Zaman mosque, packed with worshipers during Friday prayers, and detonated an explosive.

While no group has claimed responsibility, locals at the scene of the blast chanted “Death to ISIL.” The group has long targeted Shia Muslims.

A second suicide bombing occurred in Afghanistan’s western Ghor province, this one hitting a Sunni mosque. The blast killed at least 33, and authorities believe the attack likely targeted a former warlord who had joined the government.

Afghan president Ashraf Ghani condemned the dual bombings, saying “the terrorists have once again staged a bloody attack, but they will not achieve their evil purposes and sow discord among the Afghans.”

He also vowed that security forces would destroy the groups carrying out these bombings.

The U.S.-backed Afghani government is locked in a war with both ISIL and the Taliban.

The explosions cap a violent week for the country. Before these latest blasts, fighting and bombings killed around 70 people. Those killed were mainly police and soldiers, but civilians are also among the dead.