Islamic State Khorasan Province claims responsibility for the deadly attack during Friday prayers in Afghanistan.
At least 100 worshippers were killed or injured in a devastating suicide bombing at a Shia mosque in the Afghan city of Kunduz during Friday prayers. The explosion targeted the Gozar-e-Sayed Abad mosque, a site filled with worshippers, and was claimed by the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), a militant group with a history of attacks on Afghanistan’s Shia minority, who make up around 15-20% of the population.
Graphic images shared on social media showed the horrific aftermath, with bodies scattered across the mosque and thick smoke rising from the scene. The blast is believed to be the deadliest in Afghanistan since an earlier ISKP bombing at Kabul airport during the US withdrawal that killed 13 US soldiers and 169 Afghans.
The United Nations mission in Afghanistan confirmed that more than 100 people were either killed or injured, though some reports indicated a lower toll of 50 fatalities. Local authorities, including Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, confirmed the scale of the attack and dispatched special forces to investigate the incident.
The Taliban’s deputy police chief in Kunduz, Dost Mohammad Obaida, suggested the suicide bomber may have mingled with worshippers before detonating the explosives. He assured the Shia community that the Taliban was committed to ensuring their safety.
This attack highlights the fragile security situation under the Taliban’s rule and the persistent threat posed by ISKP, which aims to destabilize the new regime. ISKP has long targeted Shia Muslims in efforts to incite sectarian violence and challenge the Taliban’s authority.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and chaos, as people searched for loved ones and ambulances rushed victims to nearby hospitals. Medical staff at local hospitals reported at least 35 fatalities and more than 55 wounded, with additional casualties arriving at other trauma centers.
