Explosion in Afghanistan kills a famous cleric and civilians

A prominent pro-Taliban preacher as well as more than a dozen people were murdered in an explosion outside a mosque in the western Afghan city of Herat.
During Friday noon services, a bomb went off at the Guzargah Mosque in Herat.
“Mujib Rahman Ansari, with some of his guards and civilians, have been killed on their way toward the mosque,” said Herat’s police spokesperson Mahmood Rasoli.
Rasoli omitted to mention how many people were hurt in the explosion. Al Jazeera was informed by sources on the site that 15 people had died.
No one immediately took blame. Social media posts included pictures of what seemed to be blood-stained bodies lying around the mosque complex.
Official from the Taliban Abdul Nafi Takor acknowledged the blast on Friday and stated there were fatalities and injuries, but he had no other information.
At a significant assembly of thousands of academics and elders hosted by the group in late June, Mujib Rahman Ansari delivered a vehement defense of the Taliban, denouncing anybody who opposed their rule.
Since assuming power around a year ago, the Taliban claim to have increased security in the nation, but there have been a number of explosions in recent months, some of which targeted popular mosques during prayer.
The armed group ISIL, which has launched a number of strikes against Taliban targets as well as religious and ethnic minorities in Afghanistan, has previously claimed responsibility for mosque bombings.
The Sunni branch of Islam, which dominates Afghanistan and is practiced by the Taliban, is represented by its adherents in the mosque in Herat.
A number of suicide assaults have been carried out during Friday prayers, concentrating on Shia Muslims.

GOGAN Media.