The Kabul mosque bombing on Wednesday killed at least 10 people, including a prominent cleric, according to eyewitnesses and police.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the latest attack to hit the country since the Taliban seized power a year ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since the former insurgents took control last August, the Islamic State group’s local affiliate has increased attacks against the Taliban and civilians as US and NATO troops departed. In Kabul, the IS claimed responsibility for killing a prominent Taliban cleric last week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An eyewitness told CNN that a suicide bomber attacked the Siddiquiya Mosque in the city’s Kher Khanna neighborhood. In an interview with the media, the eyewitness identified the slain cleric as Mullah Amir Mohammad Kabuli.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over 30 others were also injured, he said. According to the Italian Emergency Hospital in Kabul, at least 27 civilians, including five children, were injured in the bomb blast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In northern Kabul, Taliban-appointed spokesman Khalid Zadran confirmed an explosion inside a mosque, but did not provide a casualty count or breakdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zabihullah Mujahid, Taliban spokesman, also condemned the explosion and promised the perpetrators would be brought to justice and punished soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, the US-led invasion toppled the Taliban government, which had hosted al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Due to the international community’s refusal to recognize the Taliban government, the former insurgents have faced a crippling economic crisis since regaining power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Separately, the Taliban confirmed that they had captured and killed Mehdi Mujahid as he attempted to cross the border into Iran in western Herat province on Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Among the Taliban ranks, Mujahid was the only member of the minority Shiite Hazara community in the district of Balkhab in northern Sar-e-Pul province.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Taliban turned against Mujahid over the past year after he opposed decisions made by the Taliban leaders in Kabul.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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