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Shia mosque attacked in Saudi Arabia Shia mosque attacked in Saudi Arabia
(about 1 hour later)
Three people have died in an attack by militants on a Shia mosque during Friday prayers in eastern Saudi Arabia, according to security officials. At least two people have died after two gunmen wearing suicide bomb belts attacked a Shia mosque during Friday prayers in eastern Saudi Arabia.
Witnesses and activists said an explosion at the Imam Rida mosque in Mahasen was followed by gunfire. One attacker detonated his explosives while the other opened fire, the interior ministry said. The other attacker was stopped from blowing himself up, it said.
Mohammed al-Nimr, the brother of the executed cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, told the Associated Press that security forces and ambulances quickly surrounded the mosque. He said worshippers stopped an attacker from detonating a suicide bomb belt. The attack happened at the Imam Rida mosque in Mahasen, an area popular with Shia workers at state-run Saudi Arabian Oil, the world’s largest oil-producing firm.
The interior ministry said the attack killed two and injured seven, though security officials told the Associated Press that three were killed.
Mohammed al-Nimr, the brother of the executed cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, witnessed the attack, telling AP that security forces and ambulances quickly surrounded the mosque and that he thought the death toll would rise.
Videos and photos circulated on social media showed at least three people lying apparently motionless inside the mosque. Separate video footage showed police firing in the air trying to disperse a crowd as they held one suspect in custody.Videos and photos circulated on social media showed at least three people lying apparently motionless inside the mosque. Separate video footage showed police firing in the air trying to disperse a crowd as they held one suspect in custody.
Another witness told Reuters that the explosion happened in the mosque’s courtyard, and that one of the suspects then entered the mosque carrying a machine gun.
“The young men [in the mosque] grabbed his gun and beat him up, but he did not die,” the witness said. “The police then came and took him away and the wounded were taken in private cars because ambulance cars did not arrive quickly.”
The security officials said the three dead was an initial toll.
Shias make up 10-15% of the Sunni-ruled kingdom’s population. The minority group, many of whom live in the country’s oil-producing east, have previously been targeted in attacks by Islamic State, which views Shias as heretics.Shias make up 10-15% of the Sunni-ruled kingdom’s population. The minority group, many of whom live in the country’s oil-producing east, have previously been targeted in attacks by Islamic State, which views Shias as heretics.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for Friday’s attack.No group immediately claimed responsibility for Friday’s attack.