2021 Kandahar bombing

On 15 October 2021, a suicide bombing occurred at the Imam Bargah Mosque,^[1] also known as Fatima Mosque, a Shia mosque, during Friday prayers in Kandahar, Afghanistan, killing at least 65 people and wounding more than 70.^[2][3]

2021 Kandahar bombing
Part of 2021 Afghanistan attacks and Persecution of Shias by the Islamic State
Kandahar Kandahar (Afghanistan)
Location	Imam Bargah Mosque, Kandahar, Afghanistan
Coordinates	31°37′12″N 65°42′57″E
Date	15 October 2021
Target	Shia worshippers
Attack type	Suicide bombing
Deaths	65
Injured	70+
Perpetrators	ISIS–K

Attacks

Around 13:00 local time, 4 bombers arrived at the mosque gate, where two of them blew up their explosives, making way for their accomplices, who continued the terrorist attack among the approximately 3,000 worshippers inside the mosque, detonating two more bombs.^[4]

The attacks came a week after a bombing claimed by the Islamic State – Khorasan Province at a Shia mosque in Kunduz killed 46 people.^[5][6] Following the Kunduz attack, the Taliban government had promised to provide security at Shia mosques^[7] as well as expressed its condolences to the families of the victims and promised to bring the perpetrators to justice.^[8]

Perpetrator

The Islamic State – Khorasan Province claimed responsibility for the attack according to a statement released by the group's media wing, Amaq.^[9]

See also

• List of terrorist incidents linked to Islamic State – Khorasan Province