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Bomb attack kills 26, injures dozens at Shia mosque in Kuwait City

A bomb blast hits Imam Sadiq (PBUH) Mosque in Kuwait City, killing 26 people and injuring dozens of others.

At least 26 people have been killed and more than 220 others injured in a bomb attack at Imam Sadiq (PBUH) Mosque in Kuwait City.

The Kuwaiti Interior Ministry announced the number of casualties from the bombing, which was carried out during the weekly Friday prayers at the mosque in the Sawabir district of the Kuwaiti capital.

The Takfiri ISIL terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Security forces, officials and civilians gather outside the Imam Sadiq Mosque after a deadly blast struck after Friday prayers in Kuwait City, Kuwait, June 26, 2015. (© AP)

Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah visited the site of the bomb attack following the incident.

The Kuwaiti cabinet has held an emergency session, with the Interior Ministry launching an investigation into the bombing and raising the level of security alert.

Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah (center) arrives at the site of a blast in the Shia mosque of Imam Sadiq (PBUH) in Kuwait City, June 26, 2015.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham has condemned the terrorist attack in the Kuwaiti capital.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also held a telephone conversation with his Kuwaiti counterpart Sabah al-Khalid al-Sabah to convey condolences to the Kuwaiti government and people. Zarif also condemned the terrorist attack during his conversation with al-Sabah.

ISIL has claimed responsibility for similar bomb attacks in Saudi Arabia and Yemen over the past weeks.

On May 22, a blast in the al-Qudaih Village in the Qatif region of Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province killed 21 worshipers, including two children.

Earlier in March, at least 142 people were killed and over 350 others wounded in three bomb attacks targeting Friday prayers at mosques in the Yemeni capital, Sana’a.

HSN/HJL