KABUL: A suicide bomb and gun attack claimed by the militant Islamic State (IS) group on a Shia mosque in Kabul killed 20 people and wounded scores more on Friday, officials said.

Gunshots and explosions could be heard during the attack that lasted around four hours and witnesses reported seeing worshippers smash windows to escape.

The mosque, in a residential area in the north of the city, was believed to have been packed with dozens of men, women and children when the assailants struck during Friday prayers.

Heavily-armed security forces surrounded the building and managed to rescue more than 100 worshippers, according to the interior ministry. The health ministry said 20 people were killed and more than 50 wounded in the ordeal.

Among the security forces, two were killed and seven others wounded.

“The attack is over and the site has been cleaned up by our police,” deputy spokesman Najib Danish said, confirming that three attackers were killed by security personnel.

Kabul police spokesman Abdul Basir Mujahid said a suicide bomber “detonated himself inside the mosque”.

People gathered outside had tried to call women and children trapped inside but their mobile phones were not responding, a reporter at the scene said.

“Our relatives have been stranded inside the mosque... We believe they have been held hostage by the gunmen. We are very concerned about their safety and may God help us and rescue our loved ones,” one of the onlookers said.

Eyewitnesses described horrific scenes inside the mosque as the attackers ran short of bullets and began “using knives to stab worshippers”. Others said the attackers had been armed with rocket propelled grenade launchers.

IS claimed responsibility for the deadly assault via its propaganda agency. “Two ‘inghimasi’ of IS carried out an attack on a Husseiniya [a Shia place of worship] in the Khair Khana sector of the Afghan city of Kabul,” Amaq said, using the terms for suicide bombers who set off explosive vests as a last resort against gunfire.

More than 10 ambulances were at the scene to take the wounded to local hospitals.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2017