Seven Afghans were killed and 15 wounded Sunday in a suicide bombing near a mosque in northern Afghanistan after prayers at the start of the Eid al-Adha festival, a provincial police chief confirmed, dpa reported.
"A suicide bomber came and detonated his vest as worshippers were exiting the mosque. Seven people were killed," said Asadullah Sherzad, the police chief of Baghlan province, of the attack in old Baghlan city.
One police officer manning a checkpoint was among the seven killed, Sherzad said.
The attack came as worshippers were greeting each other after prayers for Eid al-Adha, or the festival of sacrifice.
Earlier in the week, Taliban leader Mullah Omar had warned his insurgents against causing civilian casualties, saying they would be subject to Sharia law.
Omar, in a statement issued Thursday, ordered Taliban fighters to "take every step to protect the lives and wealth of ordinary people."
He said: "If it is irrefutably proven that the blood of innocent Muslims is spilt by the negligence of mujahedin then a penalty should be implemented in accordance with Sharia."