Explosion at mosque kills one, wounds 7 in northern Afghanistan

An explosion at a mosque has killed at least one Afghan and wounded seven others in the northern province of Badghis, a Taliban official says.

The blast took place while dozens of worshipers had gathered inside a mosque in the provincial capital Qala-e-Naw for Friday prayers.

Baz Mohammad Sarwari, the Taliban’s director of Information and Culture for Badghis Province, said it was unknown whether the blast had been caused by a planted bomb or an individual wearing an explosive vest, but investigations were ongoing.

According to Sarwari, the wounded worshipers were transferred to the provincial hospital while Taliban forces secured the area. The local media reported that the area around the mosque had been cordoned off and roads leading to the area had been blocked by the Taliban after the blast.

No specific group immediately claimed responsibility for the explosion. Daesh has in the past claimed responsibility for such attacks, though.