Islamic State ‘blows up’ landmark Grand al-Nuri Mosque in Mosul

Smoke rises above the Grand al-Nuri Mosque in the old city of Mosul in this file photograph

Islamic State militants blew up on Wednesday the Grand al-Nuri Mosque of Mosul and its leaning minaret, an Iraqi military statement said.

The mosque is where IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared the Islamic caliphate in 2014.