Explosion at Kabul mosque kills ‘several civilians’ as loud blast heard across the city

A BOMB has exploded in the entrance of a mosque in Kabul – leaving a number of civilians dead, a Taliban spokesman said. The bomb targeted the sprawling Eidgah Mosque, where a memorial service was being held for the mother of Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. AFPAfghan medical staff members stand at the entrance of a hospital as they wait to receive the victims of an explosion in Kabul[/caption] ReutersA member of Taliban forces stands guard on a street in Kabul[/caption] Taliban fighters were not been harmed in the attack, Taliban spokesman Bilal Karimi told the Associated Press.  Those killed in the attack were civilians outside the mosque gate. He did not provide a figure for the number killed and said an investigation was ongoing. Emergency NGO, an Italian-funded hospital in Kabul, tweeted it had received four people wounded in the blast. The area around the mosque was cordoned off by the Taliban, who maintained a heavy security presence. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. Most read in News 'UNBEARABLE' I spent my son's 4th birthday singing at his grave after his dad ran him over STUCK UP Sisters slam 'jealous' residents after notes GLUED to their matching Range Rovers CROWNSIZE Charles 'will live in "flat above the shop" at Buckingham Palace when he's King' 'GANG RAPE' Woman ‘raped by 4 men in strip club after she was asked to "try out" for job’ CHANNEL CRISIS Migrants crossing Channel to UK to be detained in ALBANIA in new crackdown SARAH FIEND SHOCK Killer cop Wayne Couzens showed off a prostitute at Met hotel party However, since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in mid-August, attacks by Islamic State group militants against them have increased.  The rise has raised the possibility of a wider conflict between the two extremist groups. IS maintains a strong presence in the eastern province of Nangarhar and considers the Taliban an enemy. IS has claimed several attacks against the Taliban, including several killings in the provincial capital of Jalalabad. Attacks in Kabul have so far been rare, but in recent weeks IS has shown signs it is expanding its footprint beyond the east and closer toward the capital.  On Friday, Taliban fighters raided an IS hideout just north of Kabul in Parwan province. The raid came after an IS roadside bomb wounded four Taliban fighters in the area.