Explosion hits memorial service near kabul mosque

Over five civilians have been killed in an explosion outside the Eid Gah Mosque in the Afghan capital Kabul, according to a Taliban interior ministry spokesman.

Four other people were wounded in an attack that targeted a memorial service being held for the mother of Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on Sunday.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, apparently the most serious in the Afghan capital since the withdrawal of U.S. forces in August.

Taliban commanders were seen giving blood at a hospital treating the wounded.

An Italian-funded emergency hospital in Kabul reported it had received four people wounded in the blast.

The country director in Afghanistan for Emergency, Marco Puntin said, “We received four patients, three of them had shrapnel injuries while one had a bullet wound.”

According to him, he heard gunshots shortly after the blast, adding that all four patients were alive and in stable conditions.

Taliban spokesman Bilal Karimi said, Taliban fighters were not harmed in the attack, those killed in the attack were civilians outside the mosque gate.

“I heard the sound of an explosion near the Eid Gah Mosque followed by gun firing, the Taliban blocked the road shortly before the blast struck,” Abdullah, a nearby shopkeeper said.

Three suspects were arrested following Sunday’s explosion, said Karimi, a Taliban spokesman.

The area around the mosque was cordoned off by the Taliban, who maintained a heavy security presence. The site was cleaned later in the afternoon.

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Kamila/Al-Jazeera