Afghanistan: Dead after explosion in Afghan city of Mazar

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Attack in Kabul, April 20

Photo: IMAGO/Saifurahman Safi / IMAGO/Xinhua

According to media reports, several people have been killed in an explosion in the northern Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif.

As the Afghan broadcaster Tolonews reported, at least five people were killed and dozens more injured in the city of the former Bundeswehr base on Thursday.

The explosion happened in a Shiite mosque.

A Taliban official confirmed the explosion and casualties in the city center.

He spoke of more than 20 dead and at least 50 injured.

More detailed information, including the origin of the attack, was initially not available.

Meanwhile, a roadside bomb in the Afghan capital of Kabul wounded at least two children, a police official said.

The explosives detonated in the central reservation of a street in the west of the city in a predominantly Shia neighborhood.

No one directly claimed responsibility for the explosion.

Another explosion occurred in the northern province of Balkh.

It was aimed at a Shia mosque, the Associated Press news agency reports.

So far nothing is known about the number of victims.

Taliban security forces are currently investigating the incident.

Already on Tuesday there was a devastating attack on a school in Kabul, in which numerous people were killed.

Local reports spoke of up to 25 deaths, but the authorities did not provide precise information.

There have recently been repeated attacks in Afghanistan.

The terrorist militia "Islamic State" (IS) claimed responsibility for most of the attacks.

The Sunni extremists consider Shiites to be apostates from the true faith, even though they are also Muslims.

After taking power in August 2021, the militant Islamist Taliban are back in power after 20 years.

mfh/dpa/AP