Police chief says governor, 14 others killed in mosque blast in northern Afghanistan

15 dead in Afghan mosque blast, including governor

KABUL, Afghanistan — A police chief says an explosion at a mosque in northern Afghanistan has killed 15 people, including a provincial governor.

Gen. Shah Jahan Noori, police chief of Takhar province, says more than 20 people were wounded in the explosion, which occurred during Friday prayers.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A massive explosion at a mosque in northern Afghanistan killed and wounded many people during Friday prayers, an Afghan governor said.

The blast occurred at the Shirkat mosque in Takhar province, Gov. Abdul Jabar Taqwa said.

The governor of neighboring Kunduz province, Mohammad Omar, was inside the mosque at the time of the blast and his fate was unknown, Taqwa said.

Omar may have been the target, Taqwa said.

“We believe a bomb was set up in the mosque to kill the governor,” he told The Associated Press.