Deadly blast hits Afghan shrine

Deadly blast hits Afghan shrine

A blast has rocked a shrine packed with worshippers marking a Shia holy day in the Afghan capital, Kabul.

At least 20 people were killed, according to Kabul police spokesman Hashmat Stanikzai. A suicide bomber is thought to be responsible.

Another blast hit the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif at about the same time, killing four people.

The attacks appear to be of a sectarian nature unprecedented in recent Afghan history, correspondents say.

Shia Muslims are commemorating Ashura, a national holiday in Afghanistan.

It is the climax of Muharram - the month of mourning for the martyrdom of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson.

Women and children

The near-simultaneous explosions happened at about midday (0730 GMT).

The BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Kabul says women and children are among the dead, and sirens could be heard across the city as paramedics rushed to the scene.

It seems to be a co-ordinated attack with the Shia community the target - a sectarian attack of an unprecedented scale, our correspondent says.

There are tensions between Afghan Sunni and minority Shia Muslims, but violence of the type seen in Pakistan or Iraq is rare.

The blasts also caused scores of injuries, with sources at the Afghan health ministry saying 67 casualties have arrived at hospitals.

Police said they had foiled another attack elsewhere in the capital.

The bomb which exploded near the main mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif was apparently strapped to a bicycle, and went off shortly after the Kabul blast.

 Deadly blast hits Afghan shrine