A Taliban fighter stands guard at the explosion site, near a mosque, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. An explosion went off near a mosque in Afghanistan’s capital on Friday, with police confirming casualties. A column of black smoke rose into the sky and shots rang out several minutes after the blast in the city’s diplomatic quarter. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing, the latest in a steady stream of attacks since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan just over a year ago.
A Taliban fighter helps one of the injured in an explosion incident to get away from the explosion site, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. An explosion went off near a mosque in Afghanistan’s capital of Kabul on Friday, with police confirming casualties. A column of black smoke rose into the sky and shots rang out several minutes after the blast in the city’s diplomatic quarter. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
A column of black smoke rose into the sky and shots rang out several minutes after the explosion near the mosque, located in a high-profile diplomatic neighborhood of the Afghan capital.
Taliban fighters stand guard at the explosion site, near a mosque, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. An explosion went off near a mosque in Afghanistan’s capital on Friday, with police confirming casualties. A column of black smoke rose into the sky and shots rang out several minutes after the blast in the city’s diplomatic quarter. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
A Taliban-appointed Interior Ministry spokesman, Abdul Nafi Takor, said the vehicle with explosives was parked by the roadside near the mosque and detonated as worshippers were coming out after Friday prayers. He added that an investigation was underway, with police at the site.
Taliban fighters stand guard at the explosion site, near a mosque, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. An explosion went off near a mosque in Afghanistan’s capital of Kabul on Friday, with police confirming casualties. A column of black smoke rose into the sky and shots rang out several minutes after the blast in the city’s diplomatic quarter. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
“Many people were martyred or wounded,” said Mohammad Basir, an eyewitness. “I don’t know if there were explosives placed on the roadside or if it was a car bomb, but there was an explosion, and all the people were in a bad situation.”
Another eyewitness, Allah Noor, said the blast was very strong.
Taliban fighters stand guard at the explosion site, near a mosque, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. An explosion went off near a mosque in Afghanistan’s capital of Kabul on Friday, with police confirming casualties. A column of black smoke rose into the sky and shots rang out several minutes after the blast in the city’s diplomatic quarter. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
“I came out and had crossed the street when an explosion happened,” he said. “Right after the explosion, people nervously started evacuating wounded victims to hospital.”
The Italian Emergency Hospital, one of Kabul’s clinics that treated the victims, said it received 14 casualties from the site, with four dead on arrival.
Taliban fighters stand guard at the explosion site, near a mosque, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. An explosion went off near a mosque in Afghanistan’s capital of Kabul on Friday, with police confirming casualties. A column of black smoke rose into the sky and shots rang out several minutes after the blast in the city’s diplomatic quarter. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Khalid Zadran, a spokesman for the Kabul police chief, said worshippers were intentionally targeted as they were leaving the Wazir Akbar Khan Mosque.
“Targeting mosques and worshippers is an unforgivable crime, the nation should cooperate with the regime in eliminating criminals,” said Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.
Taliban fighters stand guard at the explosion site, near a mosque, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. An explosion went off near a mosque in Afghanistan’s capital of Kabul on Friday, with police confirming casualties. A column of black smoke rose into the sky and shots rang out several minutes after the blast in the city’s diplomatic quarter. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
The Islamic State group — a top rival of the Taliban since their takeover in Afghanistan just over a year ago — has previously targeted mosques and worshippers, and especially members of Afghanistan’s minority Shiites in attacks.
A shocked Taliban fighter stands guard at the explosion site, near a mosque, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. An explosion went off near a mosque in Afghanistan’s capita on Friday, with police confirming casualties. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
The United Nations mission in Kabul tweeted that the bombing was another “bitter reminder of ongoing insecurity and terrorist activity in Afghanistan.”
ulcar Bomb at KabulAfghan people clean a car that was damaged by an explosion, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. The Taliban say at least three people have been killed and 13 others wounded in an explosion in the Afghan capital. The Taliban-appointed spokesman for Kabul’s police chief said Wednesday the explosion occurred in a restaurant in the city’s Dehmazang neighborhood. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
“Our thoughts are with the families of those killed, wishing speedy recovery to the injured,” added the mission, known as UNAMA.
