Kabul mosque attack death toll rises to 20

KABUL: A suicide bomb and gun attack claimed by Daesh on a mosque in Kabul killed at least 20 people and wounded scores more Friday, officials said, the latest assault to highlight deteriorating security in Afghanistan.

Gunshots and explosions could be heard during the attack that lasted around four hours and witnesses reported seeing worshippers smash windows to escape.

The mosque, in a residential area in the north of the city, was believed to have been packed with dozens of men, women and children when the assailants struck during Friday prayers.

Heavily-armed security forces surrounded the building and managed to rescue more than 100 worshippers, according to the interior ministry.

"The attack is over and the site has been cleaned up by our police," deputy spokesman Najib Danish told AFP, confirming three attackers were killed by security forces.

Kabul police spokesperson Abdul Basir Mujahid told AFP a suicide bomber "detonated himself inside the mosque" .

People gathered outside had tried to call women and children trapped inside but their mobile phones were not responding, an AFP reporter at the scene said.

"Our relatives have been stranded inside the mosque... We believe they have been held hostage by the gunmen. We are very concerned about their safety and may God help us and rescue our loved ones," one of the onlookers said.

Eyewitnesses described horrific scenes inside the mosque as the attackers ran short of bullets and began "using knives to stab worshippers".

Others said the attackers had been armed with rocket propelled grenade launchers.

The Daesh claimed responsibility for the deadly assault via its propaganda agency.

Pools of blood 

The assault underscores spiralling insecurity in Afghanistan as a resurgent Taliban steps up offensives across the country, while the Daesh group, known for carrying out sectarian attacks, expands its Afghan footprint.

It comes just days after US President Donald Trump cleared the way for thousands more American troops to be deployed in the war-torn country.

More than 10 ambulances were at the scene to take the wounded to local hospitals. Some relatives flocked to a nearby private hospital to search for loved ones who had been in the mosque at the time of the attack.

Pools of blood could be seen at the entrance to the medical facility.

Earlier this month 33 worshippers were killed and 66 wounded in a suicide attack claimed by Daesh on a mosque in the western Afghan city of Herat.