At least 15 people have been killed and at least 20 others injured after a bomb blast hit a religious school in northern Afghanistan, a local official has said.

The blast took place at around 12.45pm local time in Samangan’s provincial capital Aybak, inside a madrasa, a spokesperson for the provincial government said.

Emdadullah Muhajir added that “lots of boys” study at the madrasa.

It was not immediately clear who was behind the blast.

The Taliban say they are focused on securing the war-torn nation since taking over the country last year, however, several attacks, including at mosques, have taken place in recent months, some of which have been claimed by the Islamic State group (IS).

A resident of the city who heard the explosion told The Associated Press that the explosion went off at around the time of afternoon prayers at the Al Jihad Madrasa.

An investigation has begun.

Interior ministry spokesperson Abdul Nafi Takor confirmed the blast but put the number of people killed at 10 so far, with more injured.

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Mr Takor said: “Our detective and security forces are working to identify the perpetrators of this unforgivable crime and bring them to justice”.

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IS has carried out bombings targeting Afghanistan’s Shia Muslim minority in particular, but has also targeted Sunni mosques and madrasas, especially ones connected to the Taliban.

The Taliban and IS both adhere to a hard-line ideology but are bitter rivals.

Samangan province has a majority population of ethnic Uzbeks.

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