Incident Summary:

05/24/2019: An explosive device detonated inside the Al-Taqwa mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan. At least three people, including religious scholar Mufti Samiullah Raihan, were killed and 16 others were wounded in the attack. No group claimed responsibility for the incident.

GTD ID:
201905240003

When:
2019-05-24

Country:
Afghanistan

Region:
South Asia

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Kabul

City:
Near Kabul

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Assassination
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Government (General)
Name of Entity National Ulema Council
Specific Description Member: Mufti Samiullah Raihan
Nationality of Target Afghanistan
Target Type: Religious Figures/Institutions
Name of Entity Al-Taqwa Mosque
Specific Description Mosque
Nationality of Target Afghanistan
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Unknown
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Explosives Unknown Explosive Type
Weapon Details
An explosive device placed in a microphone was used in the attack.
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Additional Information Casualty numbers conflict across sources. Following GTD protocol, the majority reliable estimate is reported here.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Unknown No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 3 Fatalities / 16 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 3
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 16
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
"Senior Cleric among Three Killed in Kabul Mosque Explosion," Latin American Herald Tribune, May 25, 2019.
"Senior cleric among three killed in Kabul mosque explosion," EFE, May 24, 2019.
"Afghan police official says blast at Kabul mosque kills 2; Afghan police official says blast at Kabul mosque kills 2," The Canadian Press, May 24, 2019.