The Islamic State group claimed a deadly suicide bomb attack on Friday that hit a Shiite mosque in the Afghan city of Kunduz.

In a statement released on its Telegram channels, the jihadist group said that an IS suicide bomber "detonated an explosive vest amid a crowd" of Shiite worshippers who had gathered inside the mosque.

According to several news sources, an Islamic State suicide bomber struck at a mosque packed with Shiite Muslim worshippers in northern Afghanistan on Friday, killing at least 55 people and wounding dozens in the latest security challenge to the Taliban as they transition from insurgency to governance.

(With input from agencies)