Kabul: The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack claimed on a Sikh gurudwara in the Afghan capital Kabul on Saturday which killed at least two people and injured seven, Khaleej Times reported on Sunday.
Daesh made this claim on an affiliated Telegram channel, in which it said the attack was in response to insults levelled at Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), an apparent reference to remarks by an Indian government spokeswoman that have been condemned by many Muslim-majority countries.
The group said that a suicide attacker stormed the temple on Saturday morning armed with a machine gun and hand grenades after killing its guard.
Other militants fought for more than three hours with Taliban fighters who tried to intervene to protect the temple, targeting them with four explosive devices and a car bomb, the militant group said.
Since taking power in August, the Taliban say they have increased security in Afghanistan and removed the militant threats from the country, although international officials and analysts say the risk of a resurgence in militancy remains.
Saturday's blast was widely condemned as one of a series of attacks targeting minorities, with a statement from neighbouring Pakistan saying its government was “seriously concerned at the recent spate of terrorist attacks on places of worship in Afghanistan.”
Daesh has claimed responsibility for some more attacks in recent months. (UNI)