Afghan Governor, 14 Others Killed

A bomb blast at a mosque in Afghanistan killed at least 15 people, including the governor of the northern Afghan province of Kunduz, according to officials. Though it’s not clear whether the bomb was planted at the mosque or a suicide attack, or who claims responsibility for it, provincial Security Chief Shah Jahan Noori confirmed that Governor Muhammad Omar had died, and at least 20 others were injured in the blast while attending prayers in Taloqan, capital of the neighboring Takhar province. Omar, whose brother was assassinated by the Taliban last year, was close to President Hamid Karzai, and had previously survived several attempts on his life by the Taliban. The Omar killing is one in a series of assassinations of government officials in recent months, according to the BBC’s Bilal Sarwary.