Several dead as blast hits near funeral of Taliban official’s mother

dpa Islamabad Several civilians died in a Kabul explosion near a funeral ceremony for the mother of the Taliban’s main spokesperson, the militant group s...

dpa Islamabad Several civilians died in a Kabul explosion near a funeral ceremony for the mother of the Taliban’s main spokesperson, the militant group said on Sunday.The blast took place at a gathering of people near the gate of the capital’s famous Eidgah Mosque, the Taliban said.Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s chief spokesperson and deputy minister of information and culture, confirmed the blast in an online statement.Non-governmental organization Emergency, which runs a hospital in Kabul, said four injured people had been admitted in the wake of the explosion.Taliban Interior Ministry spokesperson Qari Saeed Khosty told dpa via WhatsApp that five civilians have been killed and wounded in the blast.Khosty also claimed that the Taliban forces have detained three suspects in connection to the bombing.Other reports suggest a higher toll of at least 12 dead and more than 32 wounded. Of late, the Taliban has often seemed to downplay precise casualty figures.The exact nature of the blast was not clear and there was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.Since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan by ousting the international-backed Afghan government, Islamic State militants have claimed a series of attacks on the Taliban.The attacks have taken place mainly in the eastern city of Jalalabad, but it seems the group is expanding its footprint.On Friday, Islamic State fighters attacked Taliban forces in northern Parwan province.Taliban and Islamic State militants consider the other to be enemies.Several Taliban leaders were reportedly in attendance at the ceremony for Mujahid’s mother.