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Suicide bomber kills dozens at Kabul mosque

By Sara Shayanian and Danielle Haynes
The Imam Zaman mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan, became the most recent target of a suicide attack on Friday. Photo by Jawad Jalali/EPA
The Imam Zaman mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan, became the most recent target of a suicide attack on Friday. Photo by Jawad Jalali/EPA

Oct. 20 (UPI) -- A suicide bomber set off explosives inside a mosque in the Afghan capital Friday, security officials said, killing dozens of people.

The blast occurred in Kabul's Imam Zaman mosque as Shiite worshippers gave evening prayers in the western Dasht-e-Barchi district of the city. Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish told Khaama Press 39 people died and at least 45 people sustained injuries.

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Eyewitnesses said women and children were among the dead.

"We found a terrorist entered the mosque building and detonated his explosive jacket among the crowd," a witness told the Xinhua news agency. "The blast caused panic among the worshippers and passers-by as well."

The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for the attack, Tolo News reported.

On Thursday, Taliban insurgents killed 43 Afghan soldiers at an army camp in southern Kandahar province.

President Ashraf Ghani said Friday's attack was inhuman and goes against the values of Islam.

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