ISLAMABAD, Pakistan ( Associated Press) – Islamic State has claimed responsibility for an attack on a Sikh temple in the Afghan capital, Kabul, that killed at least one worshiper and injured seven others.
The extremist group issued a statement on its Amaq website on Saturday night, saying the attack on “Sikh and Hindu temples” was in response to an alleged insult by an Indian government official against the central figure of the Islamic religion, the Prophet Muhammad. He did not name the officer.
Afghan officials said gunmen attacked a Sikh place of worship, called a gurdwara, on Saturday morning and opened fire between the attackers and Taliban fighters.
A vehicle laden with explosives was detonated outside the temple, but there were no casualties. Earlier, the gunmen hurled a hand grenade which caught fire near the temple gate.
Islamic State said Abu Mohammed al-Tajiki stormed the temple after killing the guards and then attacked people inside with machine-gun fire and grenades. Outside the temple, terrorists detonated four explosive devices and a car bomb against a Taliban militia patrol trying to defend the temple. As Amaq reports, the fighting ended after three hours.
Videos posted on social media showed plumes of black smoke rising from the temple in Kabul’s Bagh-e-Bala area and gunshots could be heard.
,
Maamoun Youssef contributed to this Cairo report.
