At least 16 dead,32 injured in mosque blasts during prayers in Afghan city of Kandahar

AFGHAN: An explosion rocked a Shia mosque in Kandahar, Afghanistan, killing at least 16 people and injuring 32 others during Friday prayers.

A spokesman for the southern city's central hospital said, "Sixteen dead bodies and 32 wounded were taken to the Mirwais Hospital."

Pictures seen inside the Iman Bargah mosque show damaged windows, people on the ground, and other worshippers attempting to assist.

The cause of the explosions was not immediately determined,

But it may be mentioned that it occurred exactly one week after the Islamic State claimed responsibility for a suicide bomb attack on Shiite worshippers in Kunduz, in northern Afghanistan.

Last Friday, at least 50 people were killed in a suicide bombing on a Shia mosque in the northern city of Kunduz during Friday prayers.

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The attack was carried out by S-K, IS-K, a local branch of the Islamic State group, which claimed responsibility for the strike, which was the bloodiest since US forces left in late August.

IS-K is the most extremist and violent of Afghanistan's jihadist militant groups, and it is openly hostile to the ruling Taliban.

Three explosions were heard, according to an eyewitness, one at the mosque's front door, another in a southern area, and a third where worshippers were washing.

At the time of the incident, the mosque was crowded, and at least 15 ambulances were on the scene.

According to Reuters, Taliban special forces have sealed the spot and have requested residents to donate blood to treat the casualties.

After foreign forces withdrew from Afghanistan at the end of August as part of a deal with the US, the Taliban took control of the country.

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