Suicide bomb attack claims 29 lives at Shia mosque in Afghanistan

At least 29 people were killed in a a suicide bomb attack that took place in Burqas, Afghanistan on Friday.  According to reports, another 81 were injured. This happened when a suicide bomber and a gunman wearing full-length burqas entered the Shiite mosque hiding explosive under their vests and automatic weapons attacked and killed worshippers.

According to local officials and eyewitness, at least 29 people have been killed and 81 wounded after a suicide bomber and a gunman attacked a Shia mosque in eastern Afghanistan.

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An eyewitness was quoted saying to news agency Reuters that people were performing Friday prayers at the Khawaja Hassan mosque, in Gardez city, Paktia province, when a man detonated his explosives.

According to the Afghan police, two male attackers, wearing full-length burqas to hide explosive vests and automatic weapons, entered the mosque in the city of Gardez in Paktia Province, first firing at the worshippers and then detonating the vests.

The spokesman for the Paktia police, Sardar Wali Tabasoom, said that guards had been posted at the mosque because of fear of such an attack. But the attackers used the burqas to get close and then shot the guards, he said.
Abdullah Hasrat, the spokesman for the governor of Paktia Province, said that 29 people were killed and 81 others wounded.

The attack happened in an urban area in the city. There has been a significant increase in the number of such terrorist attacks in Afghanistan.

Groups affiliated to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) has constantly been targeting Shia Muslims in recent years.

Report The New York Times