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Gardez City mosque attack: deaths increase to 34, Talibs say wudn't them
[KhaamaPress] The death toll as a result of a coordinated suicide attack on a mosque in Gardez city has reached to at least 34 people, the local security officials said Saturday. A spokesman for the provincial security commandment of Paktia Sardar Wali Tabasum confirmed the death toll and said a number of children are also among those killed or wounded. Tabasum further added that the attack has left at least 76 people wounded including a number of children. The provincial government had earlier said the death toll as a result of a coordinated suicide attack by the Burqa-clad suicide bombers has reached to at least 29 people. According to statement released by the provincial government's media office, at least 81 people also sustained injuries in the attack. The statement further added that the attack was carried out on Khwaja Hasan located in the 2nd police district of the city. Two suicide bombers who had disguised themselves in Burqas carried out the attack by initially shooting the security guards of the mosque dead, the provincial government said, adding that they detonated their explosives after intruding into the mosque compound. No individual or group has so far claimed responsibility behind the attack so far. Taliban rejects involvement as Gardez mosque bombing attracts widespread condemnation [KhaamaPress] The Taliban militants group in Afghanistan rejected involvement in the deadly attack on a mosque in Gardez city, the provincial capital of Paktia province, as the raid has attracted widespread condemnation. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid in a statement claimed the fighters of the group have no role in the attack on a mosque in Gardez city. The Office of the President, ARG Palace, in a statement said President Ghani has strongly condemned the attack on a mosque in Gardez city, calling it a criminal act which is against the principles of Islam. He said the attack on civilians and mosque once again proved the filthy nature of the terrorist groups. "This attack targeting civilians has no possible justification," said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA. "Those who are responsible for enabling this attack must be brought to justice and held to account." "These brutal and senseless attacks against people at prayer are atrocities," said Yamamoto. "Such attacks directed against congregations and places of worship are serious violations of international law that may amount to war crimes." The Commander of the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission Gen. John Nicholson said "The entire Resolute Support Mission offers our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of those martyred adn wounded today during the horrific attack at the Sahib-ul-Zaman Mosque in Gardez city." He said "The enemies of Afghanistan who martyr innocent Muslims in prayer can only be described as evil. We will continue to pursue these terrorists and destroy them." The provincial government officials say at least 29 people have been killed and 81 others have sustained injuries but the a security source says at least 34 people have died and 94 others have sustained injuries in the attack. Posted by: trailing wife 2018-08-05 |
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