Two suicide bombers targeted worshippers as they were leaving a mosque in northern Afghanistan Sunday, with one blowing himself up and killing seven people, including a police officer. At least 18 people were wounded in the blast.

Authorities said the second would-be bomber was captured before he could set off his explosives.

The attack took place on the outskirts of Baghlan city, the capital of Baghlan province, following prayers marking the start of the Eid al-Adha Muslim holiday.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the Taliban routinely targets Afghan officials and security forces, as well as international troops. On Friday, the Taliban issued a statement urging its fighters to avoid killing civilians.

Commander of NATO-led coalition forces, General John Allen, joined Afghan President Hamid Karzai in condemning the bombing. Allen said “it is obvious by these acts that the insurgents do not respect the holy religion of Islam or the people of Afghanistan.” He said that “to conduct a senseless attack during such a sacred time on the Islamic calendar is despicable.”

Violence in Afghanistan's once-peaceful northern provinces has grown more visible with a series of attacks in recent years, as insurgents seek to demonstrate their reach beyond the Taliban's southern heartland.

Separately, NATO said two of its service members were killed in two separate insurgent attacks. One died Saturday in the south, while the other was killed Sunday in the country's west.