Deadly explosions claimed by ISIS hit northern cities in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan – An explosion declared by Islamic State Terrorists at a Shi’ite mosque in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif on Thursday killed at least 11 people, one of the explosions across the country, a health official said. country.

A separate explosion caused at least 11 more casualties in Kunduz, another city in northern Afghanistan, according to a provincial health official.

ISIS has claimed responsibility for both attacks, according to a statement on the group’s Telegram channel.

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Explosions occurred during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and two days later explosion tore apart a high school in the predominantly Shi’ite Hazara area west of Kabul, killing at least six people.

“An explosion has occurred in district 2 inside a Shi’ite mosque,” ​​said Mohammad Asif Wazeri, a spokesman for Taliban commander in Mazar-e-Sharif, told Reuters.

Zia Zendani, a spokeswoman for the provincial health authority, said 11 people were killed and 32 injured in the blast.

The Shi’ite community, a religious minority in Afghanistan, is regularly targeted by Sunni militant groups, including ISIS.

Hospitals in Kunduz received 11 people killed or injured in a separate explosion, according to Najeebullah Sahel, from the Kunduz provincial health authority.

A spokesman for the Interior Ministry said a roadside explosion targeted a truck of military vehicles in Kunduz and said students were among the injured. He added that another roadside explosion in the capital, Kabul, injured three people, including a child.

Wazeri, the spokesman, also said Taliban forces had come under attack from unidentified gunmen at a property in Mazar-e-Sharif, the provincial capital, on Thursday night and both sides were exchanging exchange with each other. He did not confirm whether the attackers were involved in the explosions and said their identities were unknown.

Richard Bennett, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, condemned the explosions.

He said on Twitter: “More explosions today toppled Afghan rocks… targeted attacks on crowded schools and mosques, calls for immediate investigation, regulation accountability and put an end to human rights abuses.

A resident of Mazar-e-Sharif said she was shopping with her sister at a nearby market when she heard a loud bang and saw smoke rising from the area around the mosque.

“The shop windows were broken and it was crowded and people started running,” said the woman, who did not want to be named.

Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers say they have ensured the country’s security since taking power in August, but international officials and analysts say the risk of a military explosion remains .

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