Suicide bomber strikes outside Shia mosque in Afghan capital

Two people have been killed and at least five injured in a terrorist attack on a Shia mosque in Kabul, the Afghan Interior Ministry reports.

Two people have been killed and at least five injured in a terrorist attack on a Shia mosque in Kabul, the Afghan Interior Ministry reports.

Witnesses reported hearing a blast and gunfire at the al-Zahra mosque, located on the western outskirts of the city, on Thursday night.

Ministry spokesmanNajibDanesh said on Twitter that one civilian and one policeman had been killed. Four other civilians and three policemen were also said to be injured.

Mr.Danesh said the attacker was blocked by police upon trying to enter the mosque. After engaging the police in a gun battle, he took refuge in the kitchen and detonated his bomb.

ISIS has taken responsibility for the blast, which Afghan officials deemed a suicide attack.

The attack came during the holy month of Ramadan, on a night when Afghani Muslims packed into mosques around the city for prayer.