A blast killed several civilians at a mosque in Kabul where people were holding prayers for the mother of the Taliban’s spokesperson on Sunday, officials in the movement said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which broke the relative calm that had settled over the Afghan capital since the chaotic evacuations that followed the Taliban’s seizure of the city in August.
Several other civilians were hurt in the explosion on a main road near the entrance of the Eidgah mosque, officials said. Taliban commanders were seen giving blood at a hospital treating the wounded.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the attack had taken place but did not comment on reports from other officials in the movement that the mosque had been holding prayers for his mother.
A Taliban soldier who said he saw the explosion said two people were killed and eight wounded. He said there appeared to have been two bombers and added that one of these was killed and the other caught trying to escape.
Local media quoted the ministry of the interior as saying eight people had been killed and 20 wounded but one Taliban official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the final total would be higher.
One official, who asked not to be named, said: “There are casualties but at the moment there is no information on the exact number.” He added that all the victims were civilians.