Kabul mosque blast death toll rises to 21

ISLAMABAD, Aug 18 (KUNA) -- The death toll of the blast that ripped through a mosque in Afghanistanآ’s capital city Kabul rose to 21, while 33 others received injuries, police said on Thursday.
Kabul police spokesperson Khalid Zadran in a statement to the media said that the blast was caused by explosives placed inside the mosque. He confirmed that 21 people were killed and 33 others wounded in the blast that took place in police district 17 area.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast.
The blast took place at a time when the mosque was crowded due to prayer timings. The spokesperson for the Taliban, Zabihullah Mujahid confirming the blast said that the Taliban government strongly condemns the explosion, and vowed that the perpetrators of "such crimes will be caught and punished for their heinous deeds." The blast came a week after at least three people were killed and seven others received injuries in a blast in Kabul.
Earlier in the month, the so-called Islamic State (IS) or Daesh claimed responsibility for a deadly blast in a residential area in Kabul, killing at least eight people and wounding 18 others. (pickup previous) sbk.mt