Afghanistan: 37 dead, over 70 injured as explosion hits Shiite mosque

Kabul, Oct 15: A hospital official says the death toll from a bombing at a Shiite mosque in southern Afghanistan has climbed to 37, with more than 70 people wounded.

Suicide bombers attacked the mosque as hundreds had gathered for Friday prayers. The attack came a week after an Islamic State affiliate carried out a similar attack in northern Afghanistan that killed 46 people.

The extremist group is more radical than the ruling Taliban and has fought them on a number of occasions. The official confirmed the casualty toll on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief media.