Dozens feared dead as blast occurs near mosque in Afghanistan's Kandahar province

Kabul: The explosion occurred near a Shia mosque in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province on Friday (today), local media reported.

According to reports, the explosion was staged by a suicide attacker and at least 32 people have been killed and 45 others wounded.

The explosion took place in the Bibi Fatima mosque, the largest mosque for Shia worshippers in the city.

Taliban special forces arrived in the area “to determine the nature of the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice”, he added.

Hospital sources said they were inundated with patients, and that based on the number of increasing intakes, they feared a high casualty toll.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Last Friday, at least 46 people were killed and 143 others injured as a result of an explosion in a Shia mosque in Afghanistan’s Northern Province of Kunduz.