KABUL (Reuters – Taliban officials pledged to increase security at Shiite mosques following the second attack by Islamic State on worshippers in Kandahar, Afghanistan on Friday.

Islamic State, a hardline Sunni group claimed responsibility for the attack at Fatima mosque in Kandahar. A group of suicide bombers blew themselves up before they managed to get into the mosque.

According to a health official, the death toll was 41 and 70 respectively. However, it is possible that the number could rise. “Some of our wounded are still in critical condition. We are working with Kabul to transport them,” he stated.

Kandahar’s police chief stated that units will be sent to guard the Shiite mosques, which are currently being protected by volunteer militia forces who have been granted special weapons carrying permission.

He said, “Unfortunately they couldn’t protect this area” in a tweet (NYSE:) posted by a Taliban spokesperson.

Fatima Mosque was the biggest Shi’ite mosque Kandahar. It is also called the Imam Bargah mosche.

Under the previous Western-backed government, attacks on Shi’ite mosques or targets linked to the Hazara ethnic minority, which makes up the largest Shi’ite group of Afghanistan’s Shi’ites, were a regular occurrence.

The Taliban’s continued attacks on Afghanistan since their August retake of power have caused deep shock. This has done much to discredit the Taliban’s claims that they have restored peace after decades in war.

Islamic State’s operations have been numerous since the takingover. They range from small-scale attacks on Taliban targets, to large-scale operations like Friday’s suicide bombing that killed dozens of civilians.