A heavy explosion ripped through the Jam-e-Mosque in Herat city during a funeral ceremony on Tuesday, killing at least seven people.

According to the Ministry of Interior, at least seven people were killed in the explosion and 16 were wounded.

Ministry of Interior officials said explosives had been placed on a motorcycle, which were detonated at the entrance gate to the mosque.

Head of Herat Public Health Directorate, Abdul Karim Tamanna, said women and children are among the wounded and some of them are in critical condition.

The incident took place when members of Herat Provincial Council and Herat governor gathered at a special meeting at the mosque. 

Local officials said the explosion occurred when the attendants of the meeting were about to leave the mosque. 

According to the officials, the Herat governor left the mosque from its southern gate while the explosion happened close to the northern entrance of Great Mosque of Herat.