Afghanistan in mourning as Islamic State claims bombing

Afghanistan marked a national day of mourning yesterday, a day after a suicide bomber killed at least 80 people who were taking part in a peaceful demonstration in Kabul. The attack was claimed by the Islamic State group.

Authorities say another 231 people were wounded, some seriously, in the bombing on Saturday afternoon on a march by members of the ethnic Hazara community, who are predominantly Shi’ite Muslim. Most Afghans are Sunni, and the IS group regards Shi’ites as apostates.

The attack was the first by IS on Kabul — and the capital’s worst since a vicious Taliban insurgency began 15 years ago — raising concerns about the group’s reach and capability in Afghanistan.