Dozens killed and more than 70 injured after suicide attacker blows himself up inside Afghan mosque during Friday prayers

Dozens of people have been killed and more than 70 wounded after a suicide bomber blew himself up inside a mosque in southern Afghanistan today.

The attack took place at Fatemieh mosque in Kandahar, the largest Shiite place of worship in the city, during Friday prayers.

According to a hospital official, at least 37 people have been killed and more than 70 wounded, according to early official tolls, though local sources warned that is likely to rise.

No group has yet claimed responsibility, but it comes a week after an ISIS-K bomb attack on Shiite worshippers in the northern city of Kunduz killed more than 100.

Witnesses to today’s attack reported hearing multiple explosions in different parts of the mosque, though officials only confirmed the presence of one suicide bomber.

Murtaza, who and like many Afghans goes by one name, said he was inside the mosque during the attack and reported four explosions: two outside and two inside. He said Friday prayers at the mosque typically draw about 500 people.

However, officials added they ‘have launched an investigation to find out more.’

Medical sources said least 15 ambulances rushing to the scene to collect the wounded, while a local doctor told AFP that hospitals are ‘overwhelmed’.

“There are too many dead bodies and wounded people brought to our hospital. We are expecting more to come,’ he said.

‘We are in urgent need of blood. We have asked all the local media in Kandahar to ask people to come and donate blood.’

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