ISIL claims responsibility for attack on Shiite mosque in Afghanistan

Two suicide bombers blew themselves up, killing at least one person

epaselect epa06617171 Afghan security officials inspect the scene of a suicide bomb blast that targeted a shrine visited by Shi'ite Muslims as the country observes the Nowruz Persian New Year, in Kabul, Afghanistan, 21 March 2018. According to media reports at least 26 people were killed in the incident. Kabul authorities overhauled the security plan of the city after the attack, establishing a new system to prevent large-scale attacks. EPA/HEDAYATULLAH AMID

Afghan security officials inspect the scene of a suicide bomb that targeted a shrine visited by Shiite Muslims as the country observed the Nowruz holiday in Kabul. At least one person was killed in a similar attack on a Shiite mosque in Herat. Hedayatullah Amid / EPA

Reuters

Mar 25, 2018

ISIL claimed responsibility for a suicide bomb attack near a Shiite mosque in the western Afghan city of Herat on Sunday, but provided no evidence for its claim.

The group made the claim via a statement released online by its Amaq news agency.

Two suicide bombers blew themselves up, killing at least one person and wounding seven others, police said.

Deputy police chief Aminullah Amin said the bombers had tried to enter the mosque but blew themselves up when challenged by guards at the site.

The attack comes just days after an ISIL suicide bomber killed 26 people in the capital Kabul and injured dozens more on the road to a Shiite shrine, as Afghans celebrated the Persian new year on Wednesday.

Both the Taliban and ISIL have increasingly targeted the war-weary city in recent months as US and Afghan forces ramp up air strikes and ground offensives against the groups.

More to follow