VIDEO: At least 9 killed in bomb blasts on minibuses in Afghanistan

Gulf Today Report

Two bomb attacks aboard separate minibuses killed at least nine people on Thursday in Mazar-i-Sharif, police said, a week after a deadly explosion rocked a Shia mosque in the northern Afghan city.

The number of violent public attacks has declined since the Taliban returned to power last August, but the Daesh group continued to target Shias.

Thursday's explosions occurred within minutes of each other in several Mazar-i-Sharif neighborhoods as commuters made their way to Balkh provincial police spokesman Asif Waziri told reporters.

"The targets appear to be Shiite passengers," he said, adding 13 people were wounded in the blasts.

"The enemies of Afghanistan are creating tensions and divisions among our people. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks. The blasts came just days after a deadly attack on a Shia mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif killed at least 12 worshipers and injured dozens more.

Another bomb attack on another mosque in the northern town of Kunduz last week targeted the minority Sufi community and killed at least 36 people during Friday prayers.

In another attack, also against Shiites, two bombs exploded in a school in Kabul, killing six students.