KABUL, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The terrorist attack on a mosque in Kabul on Friday, which left 12 people dead including two attackers, has drawn wide condemnation among Afghans from all walks of life.
Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, in a statement released by Presidential Palace, described the attack as a coward terrorist offensive against humanity.
The president also termed the attack as an attempt to damage the "unity of Afghan nation" and called upon the religious scholars of Muslim world to condemn it.
A group of terrorists shot indiscriminately and exploded explosive devices inside the mosque of Imam-e-Zaman, where scores of Muslims gathered for Friday prayers, at around 1:30 p.m. local time (0900 GMT).
The attack, which triggered a gun battle and lasted for about four hours, according to Kabul Garrison Chief General Afzal Aman, left 12 people, including two attackers, dead and 23 others injured.
"We can confirmed that 10 people, including five women, were killed and 23 others, including five security personnel, sustained injuries in the attack on Imam-e-Zaman mosque in Khair Khana neighborhood of Kabu city today," Gen. Aman told reporters at the site of the bloody incident.
He also noted that two terrorists who targeted the mosque were also killed in the firefight and the situation was under control.
The Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility for the attack.
All those at the site of the blast including the worshipers and eyewitnesses, described the attack on the mosque as "inhuman terrorist act" which goes against teaching of Islamic values.
Zabihullah Majahid, who claims to speak for the Taliban outfit, has also condemned the attack on the mosque as an attempt to spark sectarian violence in the country.
The IS group also claimed responsibility for mosque attacks in Kabul and in the western Herat province.
