Turkey condemns mosque attack in Afghanistan

ANKARA

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Turkey has condemned a recent attack on a mosque in the western Afghan city of Herat, which killed at least 20 people and injured 30 others on Aug. 1.

The attack took place in the Bakat Abad area of the relatively peaceful Herat - the country’s third largest city. 

In a statement late on Aug. 1, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry expressed “deep sorrow” over the attack.    
   
“We strongly condemn this heinous terrorist attack, which targeted a holy place and innocent people,” the statement said.  

The ministry expressed Turkey’s “condolences to the government and brotherly people of Afghanistan.”       
A suspected suicide bomber first blew himself up among worshipers, and later a second assailant inside the mosque started shooting people indiscriminately.        

Dozens of people were present inside the mosque for Isha, late evening prayers, when the attack took place at 8:30 p.m. local time (16:00GMT).        

Regional police chief Mohammad Ayub said two attackers were involved in the incident.        

Taliban spokesman Qari Yosuf Ahmadi said in a statement that his group had nothing to do with the attack.        
On June 15, an attack on a Shia community mosque in the capital Kabul involving at least two suicide bombers killed at least six people.      
 
On June 6, an improvised explosive device attack at the main gate of the iconic Jama Masjid in Herat left at least eight people dead.