A deadly plot by the anti-government armed militants to detonate explosives inside a mosque in northern Sar-e-Pul province has been foiled by the Afghan security forces.

According to the local government officials, the militants were looking to target the Friday prayers in Guzar Shahan mosque, Khaama Press reported on saturday.

Provincial governor Mohammad Mohammad Zahir Wahdat said a suspect has been arrested in connection to the planting of an Improvised Explosive Device inside the mosque.

He said the suspect has been identified as Basir and was arrested by the security forces after he planted the IED in the mosque.

Wahdat further added that the Afghan security forces managed to detect and defuse the IED before the militants manage to detonate and a deadly terrorist attack plot was foiled.

Sar-e-Pul province has been among the relatively calm provinces since the fall of the Taliban regime but the anti-government armed militants have increased their insurgency activities in this province during the recent years.

Source: MENA