At least 20 killed as bomber and gunmen attack mosque in Kabul

As many as 20 people were killed and 35 others were wounded when one suicide bomber blew himself up outside Imam Zaman Mosque in Qala-e-Najarha area in Afghanistan capital of Kabul 's PD11 on Friday afternoon

Afghan security personnel stand guard near the site of suicide attack that targeted a Shiite mosque in Kabul. Pic/AFP

As many as 20 people were killed and 35 others were wounded when one suicide bomber blew himself up outside Imam Zaman Mosque in Qala-e-Najarha area in Afghanistan capital of Kabul 's PD11 on Friday afternoon.

A blast was followed by gunfire as worshippers gathered for Friday prayers at the mosque in Qala-Najara. After the suicide blast, gunmen attacked the mosque in Qala-e-Najarha area in Kabul's PD11 on Friday afternoon, the Ministry of Interior confirmed. "One suicide bomber blew himself up outside Imam Zaman Mosque in PD11, confirmed Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish.

"The attack was carried out by three or four men and one of them blew himself up outside the mosque," Tolo News quoted Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish as saying. He said at least 12 people were killed and 38 others were wounded in the attack.

However, the Ministry of Public Health said that more than 20 people were killed and over 35 others were wounded in the mosque attack. Many explosions were later heard from the area during the clearance operation by the Crisis Response Unit of the Afghan National Police, Tolo News reported.

Ismail Kawoosi, spokesman for Ministry of Public Health, said the number of casualties from the attack may increase. A fierce gun-battle between security forces and attackers lasted for five hours and the area has been cordoned off by the police.

President Ashraf Ghani, in a statement, condemned the attack and called it a crime against the people of Afghanistan. The president called on Afghan religious scholars to raise their voice against such violent acts - carried by terrorists, the Presidential Palace said in a statement.

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