Gunmen kill at least 5 in attack on mosque in Afghanistan

Kabul: Gunmen attacked a mosque in western Afghanistan on Monday night during prayer time, killing at least five people, a spokesperson for the provincial governor said.

The dead included a woman and a child, and three people were also injured, Mawlawi Nesar Ahmad Alyes, spokesman for Heart province's governor, said on Tuesday.

The identity of the attackers was not clear. The Taliban has said they are focused on restoring security since taking over as foreign forces withdrew in 2021, but attacks targeting mosques, religious seminaries and government buildings have continued despite an end to the 20-year war.

Many attacks have been claimed by the militant Islamic State group.

Western Heart province, which borders Iran, is predominantly home to the Shi'ite religious minority, which has been on the receiving end of some of the most violent attacks against civilians in Afghanistan's bloody history.