Two mosque attacks kill 72 in Afghanistan

kabul — A suicide bomber killed at least 39 people inside a mosque in the Afghan capital Kabul on Friday night, a security official said, and a separate bombing killed at least another 33 at a mosque in the middle of the country.

The Kabul bombing is the latest in a string of violent attacks which started after US President Donald Trump announced to step up war against the Taleban. The attack occurred at Imam Zaman mosque in the western Dasht-eBarchi part of Kabul as worshippers gathered for prayers.

An eyewitness, Ali Mohammed, said the mosque was packed with worshippers, both men and women at Friday prayers. The explosion was so strong that it shattered windows of nearby buildings.

A senior security official said the exact number of casualties was unknown but that security

the mosque was packed with worshippers, both men and women at Friday prayers An eyewitness

forces at the scene had removed at least 39 bodies.

A separate attack on a mosque in the central province of Ghor was also reported on Friday.

Iqbal Nezami, a spokesman for the Ghor provincial police, said at least 33 people were killed in the bombing that appeared to target a local leader.

The targeted official was a top local political and military leader of the Jamiat political party in Ghor, and was killed along with as many other worshippers, according to a statement from Balkh provincial governor Atta Mohammed Noor, a leading figure in Jamiat. —