Mosques attacked during holy weeks

In Afghanistan, Taliban officials reported at least 33 people are dead after a bombing at a mosque and a religious school in the Kunduz Province. Nearly 50 more people were injured, including students. No one claimed responsibility, but the country’s Islamic State affiliate claimed to be behind a series of bombings at a Shiite mosque in northern Mazar-e-Sharif on Thursday. While worshippers prayed, an explosive hidden in a bag was remotely detonated, killing at least 12.

What else happened? In Jerusalem, scores of attacks have wreaked havoc at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, their holiest site. More than 200 people, mostly Palestinians, have been injured in clashes throughout the week as Jews celebrate Passover and Muslims observe Ramadan. Jews are allowed to visit the mosque under special circumstances but are not allowed to worship. On Friday, a troop of Israeli police stormed the compound after reporting Palestinians threw rocks at them. Tens of thousands of Muslims were at Al-Aqsa for Friday prayers, and Israeli police said they waited until the prayers were complete before retaliating. At least 57 were injured, with one in critical condition. Around midday, Palestinian protesters  tried to march on a police post within the compound. Police responded with tear gas.

Dig deeper: From the archives, read Mindy Belz’s accounts of the Israeli-Palestinian war last year.