Two suicide bombings at Shia mosques in Afghanistan on Friday, October 20, resulted in at least 72 deaths, including several children. One of the blasts occurred in the capital city. According to Reuters from Kabul, citing eyewitnesses and security officials, a suicide bomber entered a Shia mosque in the city on Friday evening and detonated himself. According to the spokesperson for the Afghan Ministry of Interior, at least 39 people died at the Imam Zaman mosque located in the west of Kabul. While no group has claimed responsibility for this explosion yet, several mosques in Afghanistan have been targeted by suicide attacks in recent months, with the Islamic State (ISIS) claiming responsibility for most of these bombings. Earlier in September, an armed attack on a Shia mosque in Kabul left dozens dead and wounded, with ISIS taking responsibility for it. This attack, which occurred on Friday, September 24, lasted for several hours and ended with all attackers being killed. On October 1, at least six people died following a suicide bombing near a large Shia Hosseiniyah in northern Kabul. More than 20 worshippers preparing for Ashura ceremonies were also injured in this explosion. Meanwhile, on Friday, according to a police official in Afghanistan, another suicide bomber in a different mosque in Ghor province killed at least 33 people. In this regard, the governor of Balkh issued a statement identifying the target of this second explosion as a local leader of a political party. No one has claimed responsibility for this explosion either.
Two Suicide Bombings in Afghanistan Leave Dozens Dead
Two suicide bombings targeting Shia mosques in Afghanistan resulted in at least 72 deaths, highlighting ongoing violence against religious minorities. The Islamic State has been linked to similar attacks in recent months, raising concerns about security and sectarian violence in the region.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Two suicide bombings targeted Shia mosques in Afghanistan, resulting in at least 72 deaths. The attacks occurred in Kabul and Ghor province, with no group immediately claiming responsibility.
- At least 39 people died in the Imam Zaman mosque in Kabul.
- The bombings highlight the ongoing threat to Shia communities in Afghanistan.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Afghanistan has a significant Shia minority, particularly the Hazara community, which has faced targeted violence from extremist groups. The rise of ISIS in the region has intensified these attacks.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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