August 2018 Gardez Mosque Attack
The Gardez Mosque Attack was a suicide attack carried out on August 3, 2018 by two members of the Islamic State terrorist group at a Shiite mosque in Gardez, eastern Afghanistan. The attack left 48 dead, including three children, and more than 70 injured. It is part of the context of the war in Afghanistan, which since the departure of Western troops in 2015, continues to pit the government against armed jihadist groups.[2] [3]
| 2018 Gardez Mosque Attack | |
|---|---|
| Part of War in Afghanistan (2015-present) | |
  Gardez Gardez (Afghanistan) | |
| Location | Gardez (Afghanistan) |
| Coordinates | 33°36′11″N 69°13′19″E |
| Date | 3 August 2018 |
| Target | Hazara Shiites |
Attack type | Suicide Bombing, shooting |
| Weapons | Explosive belts, Assault rifles |
| Deaths | 48 (including two perpetrators)[1] |
| Injured | 70+ |
| Perpetrator | Islamic State - Khorasan Province |
No. of participants | 2 |
| Motive | Islamic Terrorism |
The attack
On Friday, 3 August 2018, at the time of Salat, two members of the Islamic State clad in burqas burst into the Shia mosque of Gardez. There they opened fire on the worshippers before activating their explosive vests.[4]
Aftermath
An initial report announced on the very day of the attack gives a total of twenty-nine dead and 81 injured. A new count the next day reported thirty-five dead, including three children, and 94 injured. Seventeen were evacuated by helicopter to Kabul.[5]
Responsibility
The Taliban rapidly denied all responsibility for the attack. The Islamic State, through its agency Amaq, claimed all responsibility during a message on the evening of August 4. [5]
See also
References
- Suicide attack on mosque in Afghanistan’s Gardez kills 48, ReliefWeb (August 6, 2018) (Archive)
- Afghanistan: Dozens killed in bomb and gun attack on Shia mosque, Al Jazeera (August 3, 2018) (Archive)
- Suicide bomb attack on Afghan Shi'ite mosque kills 39, 80 injured, Reuters (August 3, 2018) (Archive)
- "Afghanistan : 35 morts dans un double attentat-suicide dans une mosquée". lemonde.fr (in French). August 3, 2018. Archived from the original on August 13, 2018.
- "Afghanistan : des kamikazes déguisés en femmes tuent au moins 35 fidèles dans une mosquée chiite". leparisien.fr (in French). August 4, 2018. Archived from the original on August 5, 2022.
