In a shocking incident, at least 28 people were killed and dozens injured when three suicide bombers exploded at a crowded Shia mosque in the Afghan capital Kabul on Monday.

"The attacker entered the Baqir ul Olum mosque during a ceremony,: the interior ministry said in a statement.

Fraidoon Obaidi, chief of the Kabul police Criminal Investigation Department, said: "at least 28 people were killed and 45 wounded and that the total may rise."

“I saw people screaming and covered in blood,” a survivor told Afghanistan’s Ariana Television. He said, "around 40 dead and 80 wounded had been taken from the building before rescue services arrived at the scene, but there was no independent confirmation of those figures."

The Taliban, trying to reimpose Islamic law after their 2001 ouster, denied they were responsible for the attack. “We have never attacked mosques as it’s not our agenda,” said the movement’s main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid.

Government Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah condemned the attack as a sign of barbarism but said: "Afghanistan should not fall victim to enemy plots that divide us by titles”.

Worshippers were meeting to mark the Shia ceremony of Arbaeen, which comes 40 days after the major festival of Ashura.

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BY M. DIVYA SRI