Afghanistan blast outside mosque kills 14, wounds 24, in minority attack

Record ID: 84310

  • Title: Afghanistan blast outside mosque kills 14, wounds 24, in minority attack
  • Date: 12th October 2016
  • Summary: BALKH PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN (OCTOBER 12, 2016) (REUTERS) SHOES AND BLOOD AT THE SITE OF BLAST
  • Embargoed: 27th October 2016 17:20
  • Keywords: Afghanistan Balkh province bomb Ashura Shi'ite Muslim
  • Location: BALKH PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN
  • City: BALKH PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN
  • Country: Afghanistan
  • Topics: Bombing (non-military),Conflicts/War/Peace
  • Reuters ID: LVA00153P9ZD3
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: QUALITY AS INCOMING
    A bomb blast outside a mosque in Afghanistan on Wednesday (October 12) killed at least 14 people and wounded 24 among a gathering of worshippers, the second attack targeting the country's Shi'ite minority in less than 24 hours, an official said.
    The devotees had congregated to mark Ashura, one of the holiest days for Shi'ite Muslims, at the mosque, about 20 km (12 miles) from Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of Afghanistan's northern Balkh province.
    At the site of the blast, shoes and bloodied clothing of the victims lay scattered in the street.
    "Several people were wounded and martyred here and we have taken them away in an ambulance. At least 13 to 14 people were killed and more than 20 wounded," eyewitness Ghulam Jan Eye said.
    "Right after the explosion everyone was in a panic situation, people escaped the area, a lot of people were killed and wounded right here," added another eyewitness Shah Mohammed.
    The mosque was targeted in the explosion, said Moneer Ahmad Farhad, a spokesman for the provincial governor. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
    The attack came a day after gunmen killed at least 18 people and wounded 50 at an Ashura gathering at a mosque in the capital, Kabul, according to United Nations estimates.
    That attack was claimed by Islamic State, which also claimed responsibility for an attack on a mostly Shi'ite street demonstration in July that killed 84 people.
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