A huge bomb blast Friday at one of the biggest mosques in western Afghanistan killed at least 18 people, including an influential imam. Images posted on Twitter showed what appeared to be blood-stained bodies scattered around the compound of Gazargah Mosque in Herat city. At least 18 people were killed and 23 wounded in Friday blast, said Hameedullah Motawakel, spokesman for the governor of Herat province, in a text message to media. Government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that Mujib-ur-Rahman Ansari, the imam of the mosque, was among the dead. A strong and courageous religious scholar of this country was martyred in a brutal attack,he said on Twitter. Mujib-ur-Rahman was an influential cleric known for his fiery speeches.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-INP