ISIS mosque bombing in Afghanistan kills 46 worshippers

ByNews Desk- The Cradle 

The attack, targeting Shia and the Taliban for its negotiations with China, resulted in the highest death toll since the US withdrawal

An ISIS terrorist has blown up a Shia mosque in the northern province of Kunduz on Friday, 8 October, killing 46 worshippers.

The attack, which has the highest death toll since the US occupation withdrawal, injured another 143 people. Health officials say the death toll could be closer to 70 people.

The worshippers who were killed in the suicide explosion were Hazara Shia, who have long been targeted in the country.

The ISIS terrorist who caused the devastating attack was  identified as Muhammad al-Ughuri, and was a Uighur Muslim.

An ISIS statement released through its news outlet, Amaq, stated that the attack was carried out against the Taliban for negotiating with China to expel Uighur militants from the country. The statement also vowed to conduct more attacks against the Shia.

Following the US withdrawal, ISIS in Afghanistan has been emboldened to challenge the authority of the Taliban, especially in the north and east of Kabul.

Prior to the Taliban takeover, Hazara locals had safeguarded the mosque with their own security forces.

The Taliban have since confiscated all weapons from previous guards, and locals have argued that worshippers have been left defenseless.

Shia cleric Sayyed Hussein Alimi Balkhi called on the security forces of the government “to provide security for the mosques since they collected the weapons that were provided for the security of places of worship.”