Islamic State claims attack on Sikh temple in Kabul that killed two

• Islamic State claims responsibility for attack on Sikh temple in Kabul.
• At least two people killed and seven injured, officials say.
• Attack comes as part of a wave of violence targeting minorities and sites of worship.

Officials say an attack claimed by Islamic State on a Sikh temple in Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital, killed at least two people and injured seven others on Saturday, adding to a wave of violence targeting minorities and sites of worship.

The local branch of the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack on an affiliated Telegram channel, claiming it was in response to insults directed at the Prophet Mohammed, an apparent reference to remarks made by an Indian government spokeswoman that have been condemned by many Muslim-majority countries.

Domestic broadcaster Tolo broadcasted footage of grey smoke billowing over the area. According to a Taliban interior spokesman, terrorists loaded explosives onto a car, but it detonated before reaching its intended target.

According to Gornam Singh, a temple official, there were about 30 individuals inside the building at the time.

One Sikh worshipper was killed in the attack, according to a spokesman for Kabul’s commander, while one Taliban fighter was killed as his forces took control of the area.

The Taliban claim to have strengthened security in Afghanistan and reduced militant threats since assuming power in August, but international officials and analysts warn the risk of a resurgence of extremism remains.

In recent months, the Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a number of incidents.

After killing the temple’s guard, a suicide attacker assaulted the temple early Saturday morning armed with a machine gun and hand grenades, according to the group.

According to the militant group, other militants fought for more than three hours with Taliban fighters who attempted to intervene to protect the temple, targeting them with four explosive devices and a car bomb.

The bomb on Saturday was widely criticised as one of a series of attacks targeting minorities, with Pakistan’s government expressing “deep concern” over the “recent wave of terrorist attacks on houses of worship in Afghanistan,” according to a statement.

The United Nations mission in Afghanistan stated in a statement that minorities in the nation must be protected, while India’s President Narendra Modi expressed dismay at the attack on Twitter.

Before the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, Sikhs were a small religious minority in the predominantly Muslim country, with only roughly 300 families. According to community members and the media, many have now fled.

Sikhs, like other religious minorities in Afghanistan, have been a constant target of violence. Islamic State also claimed responsibility for a 2020 attack in Kabul that killed 25 people.

According to authorities, Saturday’s explosion came after a bomb at a mosque in the northern city of Kunduz the day before, which killed one person and injured two more.