At least 21 people were killed and another 33 injured after a bomb explosion at the Abu Bakr al Sadiq Mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Wednesday, according to reports.
Among those killed is Maulvi Amir Mohammad Kabuli, a prominent religious scholar, as well as other worshippers who are thought to be from northern Afghanistan, according to local journalists. It was initially reported that up to 50 people may have been killed in the blast, but updated death tolls show just over 20.
“With extreme grief, I am going to say that 21 people were martyred and 33 others injured in a bomb blast in a mosque,” said Khalid Zadran, a spokesman for the Kabul police, according to the Washington Post. “The bomb blast occurred when the worshipers were offering the evening prayer the other day.”
It’s not clear who is responsible for the attack, and police are investigating the matter, per the outlet.
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Local outlets reported nearby residents called the sound “terrible” and that they also heard sounds of gunshots after the initial explosion. It’s not clear what caused the explosion or what the overall death toll may be.
The explosion is the latest attack targeting the Taliban since the group regained control of the country last August. Last week, an extremist group affiliated with the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the killing of a prominent Taliban cleric at a religious center in Kabul, according to the Associated Press.
