Afghani IS believed to be behind latest attack as 47 killed in Kandahar mosque

SUICIDE bombers have attacked a Shiite mosque in southern Afghanistan that was packed with worshippers attending Friday prayers, killing at least 47 people and wounding more 70.

The attack on the Imam Barga mosque in Kandahar came a week after a bombing, claimed by a local Islamic State affiliate, killed 46 at a mosque in Kunduz, in the north.

Murtaza, an eyewitness – who, like many Afghans goes by one name – said four suicide bombers attacked the mosque yesterday. Two detonated their bombs at a security gate, allowing the other two to run inside and strike the congregation of worshippers.

He said Friday prayers are typically attended by around 500 people.

The extremist group, which is

opposed to the ruling Taliban, views Shiite Muslims as apostates deserving of death.

IS has claimed a number of deadly bombings across the country since the Taliban seized power in August amid the withdrawal of US forces. The group has also targeted Taliban fighters in smaller attacks.

Taliban spokesman Bilal Karimi confirmed the explosion and said an investigation was under way.

He had earlier reported 32 dead and 68 wounded. An official in the provincial hospital said the facility received seven bodies and 13 wounded.

The Taliban have pledged to restore peace and security after decades of war. Both the Taliban and IS adhere to a rigid interpretation of Islamic law but IS is far more radical, viewing itself as part of a worldwide Islamic caliphate that includes betterknown branches of the group in Iraq and Syria.

The Taliban and IS are Sunni Muslims but they are bitterly split by ideology and have fought each other on numerous occasions.

The Taliban have pledged to protect Afghanistan’s Shiite minority, which suffered persecution during the last period of Taliban rule, in the 1990s.