IS Afghan Branch Claims Responsibility for Mosque Terror Attack Killing Over 40 People

Suicide bombing at a mosque in Afghanistan
[Photo by AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] The Islamic militant group Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K) claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque (Islamic temple) in Afghanistan on the 15th (local time), according to foreign media including AFP.

In a statement distributed via Telegram, IS-K stated that two operatives carrying bombs carried out suicide attacks at different locations inside the mosque while worshippers were participating in prayers.

IS-K added detailed explanations, saying, "The first operative detonated the bomb in the mosque corridor, and the second operative detonated the suicide bomb in the center of the mosque."

According to Taliban authorities, at least 47 people were killed and 70 injured in the bomb attack that occurred during prayers at the Shiite Imam Bargah mosque in Kandahar, the capital of Kandahar Province in southern Afghanistan.

IS-K is the Afghan branch of the Islamic State (IS), a Sunni extremist organization, and has carried out multiple attacks targeting Shiites. It has also criticized the Taliban, who are also Sunni, for being moderate due to their peace negotiations with the United States.

IS-K is also known to be behind the suicide bombing at Kabul International Airport on August 26, which killed over 180 people.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.