Explosion rocks outside mosque in Kabul, causing casualties

KABUL – Several civilians were either killed or wounded after an explosion occurred at the middle of a crowd outside a big mosque in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, on Sunday (Oct. 3), a Taliban spokesman confirmed.

“A bomb explosion occurred at a civilians’ aggregation near the gate of Eidgah Great Mosque this afternoon. Unfortunately the blast caused casualties among the civilians,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid wrote on Twitter.

“We heard a huge blast outside Eidgah Great Mosque roughly at 3:30 p.m. local time. The whole place has now been sealed off,” an eyewitness told Xinhua.

He said a praying ceremony was underway for a deceased family member of a Taliban leader when the blast occurred.

Taliban security forces have cordoned off the area for precautionary measures.

The victims were shifted to nearby hospitals by ambulances and other vehicles.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. (Xinhua)