Media reports have revealed details of the bloody explosion that occurred at the "Saidabad" mosque in Khanabad city, Kunduz province in northern Afghanistan, on Friday, resulting in the death and injury of more than 100 people. The Associated Press mentioned that the explosion took place inside the mosque during Friday prayers when the congregation was large. A witness, Ali Reza, stated that he was praying at the time of the explosion and saw many victims.
City officials said the bombing was carried out by suicide bombers, coinciding with the end of Friday prayers. Videos and photos on social media showed people searching through the destroyed mosque and transferring bodies from the horrific scene to ambulances. A UN-affiliated agency stated that the suicide bombing resulted in the death and injury of over 100 people. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan tweeted, “Preliminary information indicates that more than 100 people were killed and injured in the suicide bombing inside the mosque.”
A Taliban official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that at least 28 people died, with dozens more injured in the Friday explosion. No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing thus far. The explosion followed several attacks in recent weeks, including an attack on a mosque in Kabul, with ISIS claiming responsibility for some of these assaults. These attacks have highlighted the security challenges faced by the Taliban, which took control of the country in August and has since launched operations against ISIS cells in Kabul.
