An explosion at Wazir Akbar Khan Mosque in downtown Kabul on Tuesday evening left two dead and eight others wounded, according to a statement by the Ministry of Interior Affairs.
Tareq Aryan, a spokesman for the interior ministry, told Anadolu Agency the suicide attacker blew his explosives inside a mosque in Wazir Akbar Khan neighbourhood at about 8 pm local time (15:30 GMT) on Tuesday.
The explosives were placed in the yard of the mosque, the statement said, adding that the imam of the mosque, Mohammad Ayaz Niazi, was also killed in the explosion.
Presidential spokesman Sediq Sediqqi in a tweet condemned the attack and said it “reveals the brutality and inhumanity of those who purposefully perpetrate violence against our Ulema and innocent people. Condolences to the victims and their families.”
A loud blast sent shockwaves through the militarised compound, where alarms sounded at various embassies and international offices, sending staff rushing into safe rooms.
“A suicide bomber blew himself up inside a washroom at Wazir Akbar Khan mosque. Initial reports show three people wounded,” spokesman told AFP news agency.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the blast.
According to data collected by TOLOnews, Kabul has witnessed over 30 roadside and magnetic IED blasts since late March.
