Kabul explosion: 'At least 50' killed as devastating blast tears apart mosque

Kabul: Explosions heard in Khair Khana area

Afghan journalist Rabia Sadat reports that around 50 worshipers were killed at a mosque, including prominent religious scholar Maulvi Amir Mohammad Kabuli. was reported. The Taliban have yet to comment on the blast.

There are unconfirmed reports of gunshots being heard around the mosque after the explosion.

Rabia Sadat said in a tweet: “Maulvi Amir Mohammad Kabuli, one of the prominent religious scholars, died in an explosion at the Siddiquiya mosque in Kabul's Khairkhane district along with about 50 worshipers.

"The Taliban have said nothing so far."

33}

However, journalist Khaled Iskef gave conflicting reports that the explosion killed 20 people and injured at least 40 others.

The perpetrators of the attack are unknown, but a likely suspect is the hardline Islamic State of Khorasan province, a splinter group of ISIS.

The group is even tougher than the Taliban, and has vowed to continue its attacks now that it has taken over. claimed responsibility for the murder of a Taliban religious leader.

Bilal Karimi, spokesperson for the Taliban regime said:

Today he said this August 17th attack coincides with other attacks by the ISIS group.

The group was also implicated in suicide bombings outside the former Hamid Karzai International Airport (now known as Kabul International), killing 170 Afghans and 13 US Marines. At least 183 people died, including

This group primarily recruits jihadists in Afghanistan and Pakistan who do not consider the Taliban to be extreme enough in their interpretation of Islam.

The Islamic State of Khorasan Province was established in January 2015 at the height of Islamic State power. Khorasan refers to the historical region straddling Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The self-proclaimed caliphate has since been defeated and largely scattered by the US-led coalition, but its fighters remain loyal to the cause.

More to come.