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ISIS claims suicide attack at mosque in Afghan capital

Posted at 8:16 AM, Aug 25, 2017
and last updated 2017-08-25 11:23:50-04

ISIS is claiming responsibility for an attack Friday on a Shiite Muslim mosque in the Afghan capital of Kabul that authorities said left 20 people dead.

The attack began early Friday afternoon when one of three attackers blew himself up at the gate of the Imam Zaman Mosque as worshippers were attending Friday prayers, according to Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish. The remaining attackers stormed the mosque and fired on security forces.

Authorities killed the gunmen after a nearly four-hour firefight, Danish said.

At least 20 people have died, and 40 others were injured, according to Ismail Kawosi, a spokesman for the Ministry of Public Health. Earlier, officials said two police officers were among the dead.

ISIS claimed responsibility, saying in a statement posted by its Amaq News Agency that suicide bombers from the group attacked the mosque.