Afghanistan : Dozens of dead and injured in an explosion targeting a mosque in the north of the country

Afghan media agencies reported that 15 people were killed and 50 others were wounded in an explosion targeting a mosque in Badakhshan province, in the north of the country.

Today, Thursday, 15 people were killed and 50 injured in an explosion that targeted a mosque in Badakhshan province, in northern Afghanistan, according to the local "Ariana News" agency.

The agency quoted state authorities as saying that the explosion took place while Taliban officials were performing funeral prayers for the former deputy governor, Nizar Ahmadi, who was killed by a car bomb earlier this week.

"Tolo News" quoted a source from the hospital, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to make a statement to the media, as saying that "after the explosion, they received 15 dead bodies and 50 wounded."

Badakhshan residents and eyewitnesses said, "The explosion occurred inside the Prophet's Mosque in the city of Fayezabad, and resulted in injuries."

Moezuddin Ahmadi, head of information and culture in Badakhshan (a local Taliban official), confirmed the explosion, without giving further details.

Eyewitnesses said that the former police chief of Baghlan province was the target of the explosion, and reports indicate that he died in the explosion, without officially confirming this.

Sources say that gunfire took place after the explosion, according to "Ariana News", while no one claimed responsibility for it until 12:00 GMT.