Afghanistan: At Least 18 Killed, 21 Injured In Deadly Blast Inside Mosque In Herat During Friday Prayers

The blast was due to a suicide attack inside the mosque during the Friday prayers.

At 18 people were killed and 21 wounded in a deadly blast that occurred inside a mosque in Herat province of Taliban-occupied Afghanistan on Friday, news agency Associated Press reported quoting local media. The extend of the blast is yet to ascertained. Meanwhile, ToLo News reported that one person identied as Mawlawi Mujeeb Rahman Ansari, the imam of the mosque, was killed in the blast that took place in the western city of the country.

Local officials in Herat confirmed ToLO News about the death of Ansari in a blast at Guzargah mosque in Herat and said the blast was due to a suicide attack inside the mosque during the Friday prayers.

Even the spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, Zabihullah Mujahid has confirmed that the prominent cleric was killed in the blast that occured during during Friday prayers. Mujahid took to Twitter and said that the perpetrators of this incident will be punished.

 However, reports and videos emerging on social media suggest that the attack may result in high number of casualties.

The blast comes a day after two persons were killed and three others injured in a blast that rocked Police District 17 of Afghan capital Kabul. According to Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Nafi Tako, a Toyota Corolla car, carrying explosive device, exploded in Police District 17 in today's afternoon, killing two countrymen and injuring three others.

The blast coincided with the first anniversary of the withdrawal of the US-led forces from Afghanistan.

On August 31, the Taliban-regime celebrated its first anniversary of the withdrawal of Western forces from Afghanistan with suicide bomber squads, homemade bombs assembled in oil containers, and old guards riding motorcycles in local uniforms were on display in the capital city.

The Taliban also made a show of strength by performing a military parade with military equipment of American forces worth billions left behind during its chaotic withdrawal of US-led NATO forces from the country. 

The day was also declared a national holiday in the country and Taliban forces marked the night of the first anniversary in Kabul with fireworks and celebratory shots into the air.