Suicide bomber kills 29 in attack on Shiite mosque in Afghanistan

Death toll likely higher in attack highlighting security situation in the country

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Afghan security personnel inspect the site of a suicide bomb attack at a Shiite mosque in Herat on August 1, 2017. A suicide bomber and a gunman killed more than 20 people at a Shiite mosque, the latest attack to highlight a deteriorating security situation in the country. Photo: AFP

Published: 3:00am, 2 Aug 2017Updated: 3:15am, 2 Aug 2017

A suicide bomber stormed into the largest Shiite Muslim mosque in Afghanistan’s Herat province on Tuesday night opening fire on worshippers before blowing himself up, killing at least 29 and wounding dozens more, said hospital official Dr Mohammed Rafique Shehrzai.

Mehdi Hadid, a lawmaker from Herat who went to the site soon after the explosion said that the scene was one of horrific carnage. He estimated at least 100 dead and wounded were scattered throughout the mosque. The attack took place in the middle of evening prayers when the mosque was packed with about 300 worshippers.

Relatives assist a wounded man in a hospital after a suicide attack on a mosque in Heart, Afghanistan. Photo: AP

At Herat Main Hospital, Dr Shehrzai, confirmed 29 bodies were brought to the hospital in Herat city, the capital of western Herat province Tuesday night, soon after the blast shattered the late evening.

Hadid said he saw several pieces of a body that was being identified as the assailant. Although it’s not clear if there was a second attacker, witnesses in the area reported hearing a second explosion about 10 minutes after the initial bomber detonated his explosives.

Located just 50 metres (150 feet) away was an Afghan National Police station, but Hadid said the police were too frightened to take action and stood outside the mosque while the attack happened.