At least 16 killed, several wounded in blast at Afghanistan madrasa

At least 16 people were killed and 24 others wounded on Wednesday (November 30) after a blast at a madrasa (seminary) in Afghanistan's northern city of Aybak, AFP reported quoting a doctor at a local hospital.

"All of them are children and ordinary people," the doctor said.

What happened: According to TOLO News, an explosion occurred att a madarasa in Aybak city, the center of Samangan province. Local officials say that the explosion occurred during afternoon prayers.

Afghanistan Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Nafi Takor said that several others were wounded in the blast.

Who is responsible? There was no immediate claim of responsibility. But the Afghan affiliate of the Islamic State group has been waging a campaign of violence that escalated since the Taliban took power in August 2021, reported AP.

IS attacks in Afghanistan: IS has carried out bombings targeting, in particular, Afghanistan's Shiite minority but has also targeted Sunni mosques and madrasas, especially ones connected to the Taliban, the AP reported.

Even though the Taliban and the Islamic State follow a hard-line ideology, they are bitter rivals.