Attack on mosque leaves 7 dead in northern Afghanistan

Seven worshippers have been shot dead by Taliban militants in Afghanistan’s northern Baghlan province, officials said on Friday.

The incident took place in the province’s Khenjan district as the faithful were coming out of a mosque, Interior Ministry spokesperson Tariq Arian said.

The ministry said two children were also among the victims.

Nearby police subsequently opened fire on the assailants, killing two of them, Arian said.

Baghlan police spokesperson Jaweed Basharat also confirmed the incident.

He said residents had condemned the incident, saying it was against Islamic principles.

The Taliban were yet to comment on the incident.

On Tuesday, unidentified gunmen opened fire on a number of people who were coming from a prayer session in eastern Nangarhar province, killing at least five.

Civilians bear a large portion of the burden of the ongoing conflict, with many left dead and wounded each year.

The first three months of 2021 saw 573 civilians killed and 1,210 wounded. a 29 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2020 according to the UN’s Assistance Mission for Afghanistan.