Afghanistan: Islamic State claims attack on Herat Shi’ite mosque that killed at least 29 people
More than 64 people have been injured and most of them are believed to be in a critical condition.
At least 29 people were killed on Tuesday night following a suicide attack on a Shi’ite mosque in Afghanistan’s Herat city, Reuters reported. More than 64 people have been injured and most of them are believed to be in a critical condition. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility of the attack.
The extremist group’s statement, however, claimed around 50 people were killed and 80 injured in the attack, Reuters reported.
The attack took place when about 300 worshippers were offering their evening prayers at the mosque, Al Jazeera reported.
“Based on our initial information, two militants were involved and one of them was wearing a suicide vest while the second was armed with a rifle,” Herat Police Spokesperson Abdul Ahad Walizada told AFP.
However, in a statement issued by the governor of Herat, Mohammad Asif Rahimi, it said only one person had been involved, TOLO News reported.
The attack came a day after four gunmen attacked the Iraqi embassy and a police headquarters in Kabul on Monday killing two people. The Islamic State had claimed responsibility for the attack.