Photos: Herat mosque blast kills dozens in Afghanistan

A suicide attack on a Shia mosque in the western Afghan city of Herat killed more than 29 people and wounded more than 64 on Tuesday, officials said. More than 1,700 civilians have been killed in attacks in Afghanistan so far this year, hitting confidence in the Western-backed government of President Ashraf Ghani. There was no claim of responsibility. But the Taliban, fighting to install strict Islamic law and drive foreign troops out of Afghanistan, denied any involvement. ...read more

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Afghan security personnel inspect the site after the suicide bomb attack at a Shiite mosque in Herat. (Hoshang Hashimi / AFP)

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Relatives mourn after a suicide attack on a mosque in Heart. (Hamed Sarfarazi / AP)

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Abdulhai Walizada, a local police spokesman, said there appeared to be more than one attacker on Tuesday, with witnesses describing a suicide bomber who detonated explosives and at least one other, a gunman who threw grenades at worshippers. (Mohammad Shoib / REUTERS)

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A wounded man rests on a vehicle after a suicide attack on a mosque in Heart. There was no claim of responsibility. But the Taliban, fighting to install strict Islamic law and drive foreign troops out of Afghanistan, denied any involvement. (Hamed Sarfarazi / AP)

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People gather on the street following a suicide bomb attack at a Shiite mosque. (Hoshang Hashimi / AFP)

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Afghanistan has traditionally been relatively free of the sectarian violence common in Iraq or Syria but hardline Sunni militants from the local branch of Islamic State have repeatedly attacked the mainly Shi’ite Hazara minority in the past year. (Mohammad Shoib / REUTERS)

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Hospital authorities in Herat said all the dead and wounded were worshipping in the mosque when a suicide bomber blew himself up. (Hoshang Hashimi / AFP)