Saudi security personel gather at the site of the suicide attack near the security headquarters of the Prophet's Mosque in Medina City on July 4, 2016. PHOTO: AFP
RIYADH: Suicide bombers struck three cities across Saudi Arabia Monday night killing at least five people and injuring six, in an apparently synchronised campaign of attacks as Saudis prepared to break their fast on the penultimate day of the holy month of Ramazan.
Explosions targeted US diplomats, Shia worshippers and a security headquarters at the Masjid-e- Nabawi (pbuh) in the holy city of Madina. The attacks follow days of mass killings claimed by the Islamic State group, in Turkey, Bangladesh and Iraq.
The latest explosion occurred near Masjid-e-Nabawi, the second holiest site in Islam, in Madina, Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya news channel reported. A suicide bomber apparently detonated a bomb near the security headquarters of the holy mosque during the Maghreb prayers.
Al-Arabiya television showed images of fire raging in a security forces parking with at least one body nearby. At least four were injured. It put the initial death toll at five, including three suicide bombers and two security officers.
At least 1,800 special forces have been deployed at Masjid-e- Nabawi owing to the large number of pilgrims visiting in Ramazan.
A video sent to Reuters by a witness to the aftermath of the Madina bombing showed a large blaze among parked cars in the fading evening light, with a sound of sirens in the background.
Al-Arabiya television reported that the blast took place in a parking lot between the courtyard and the mosque where two million people had offered prayers just the night before.
A picture sent to Reuters showed a burnt and bleeding man lying on a stretcher in a hospital. Other pictures circulating on social media showed dark smoke billowing from flames near Masjid-e-Nabawi.
In the eastern city of Qatif, which is home to many members of the Shia community, at least one and possibly two explosions struck near a mosque.
Witnesses described body parts, apparently of a suicide bomber, in the aftermath. “Suicide bomber for sure. I can see the body” torn apart, said one witness to the attack. Nasima al-Sada, another resident, told AFP that “one bomber blew himself up near the mosque”.
A resident of the city said via telephone that there were believed to be no casualties in the blast apart from the attacker, as worshippers had already gone home to break their fasts. Civil defence forces were cleaning up the area and police were investigating, the resident said.
Earlier in the day, an attacker parked a car near the US consulate in Jeddah before detonating the device, injuring two people, a Saudi security official said.
The Jeddah blast was the first bombing in years to attempt to target foreigners in the oil-rich kingdom. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but it coincided with US independence day.
Islamic State has carried out a series of bombing and shooting attacks in Saudi Arabia since mid-2014 that have killed scores of people, mostly members of the Shia community and security services.
Police and groups of local volunteers increased security near mosques in Qatif after suicide bombings hit mosques in Shia areas last year, killing dozens. Another suicide blast at a mosque used by security forces also killed 15 a year ago.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 5th, 2016.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ