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Masked gunmen kill five in Saudi Arabia Masked gunmen kill five in Saudi Arabia
(about 1 hour later)
Masked gunmen killed five people in a mostly Shia area of eastern Saudi Arabia late on Monday as the minority community prepared to celebrate the festival of Ashura, police said.Masked gunmen killed five people in a mostly Shia area of eastern Saudi Arabia late on Monday as the minority community prepared to celebrate the festival of Ashura, police said.
Nine people were wounded in the shooting, the latest in a spate of sporadic unrest in the oil-rich east of the Sunni-dominated kingdom where most of its two million Shias live.Nine people were wounded in the shooting, the latest in a spate of sporadic unrest in the oil-rich east of the Sunni-dominated kingdom where most of its two million Shias live.
The three assailants fired machine guns and pistols into a crowd leaving a building in the village of al-Dalwa in the al-Ihsa district of Eastern Province, a police spokesman told the official SPA news agency. The three assailants fired machine guns and pistols into a crowd leaving a building in the village of al-Dalwa in al-Ihsa district of Eastern Province, a police spokesman told the official SPA news agency.
The spokesman did not specify what the building was or what motive the gunmen might have had.The spokesman did not specify what the building was or what motive the gunmen might have had.
But in postings on social networking sites residents said that the crowd had been leaving a Shia place of worship on the eve of Ashura, one of their main festivals.But in postings on social networking sites residents said that the crowd had been leaving a Shia place of worship on the eve of Ashura, one of their main festivals.
The commemoration of Ashura – which marks the death of Imam Hussein, one of Shia Islam’s most revered figures – peaks on Tuesday.The commemoration of Ashura – which marks the death of Imam Hussein, one of Shia Islam’s most revered figures – peaks on Tuesday.
There have been protests and sporadic attacks on security forces in Shia areas of Eastern Province where the minority community complains of marginalisation. There have been protests and sporadic attacks on security forces in Shia areas of Eastern Province, where the minority community complains of marginalisation.
Tensions escalated last month after a Saudi court sentenced to death the leading Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr, a driving force behind the demonstrations.Tensions escalated last month after a Saudi court sentenced to death the leading Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr, a driving force behind the demonstrations.
Protests erupted in the region in February 2011 after violence between Shia pilgrims and religious police in the Muslim holy city of Medina.Protests erupted in the region in February 2011 after violence between Shia pilgrims and religious police in the Muslim holy city of Medina.
They escalated after the kingdom’s intervention in neighbouring Bahrain later that year to support a Sunni monarchy against an uprising led by the Shia majority.They escalated after the kingdom’s intervention in neighbouring Bahrain later that year to support a Sunni monarchy against an uprising led by the Shia majority.
Hundreds were arrested in a subsequent crackdown, according to Amnesty International.Hundreds were arrested in a subsequent crackdown, according to Amnesty International.
Nimr was shot and wounded during his arrest in July 2012 rekindling tensions in the region.Nimr was shot and wounded during his arrest in July 2012 rekindling tensions in the region.
After his death sentence for sedition on 15 October, his family accused the court of ignoring his “peaceful and non-violent approach,” saying the case had caused social and political discontent. After his death sentence for sedition on 15 October, his family accused the court of ignoring his “peaceful and non-violent approach”, saying the case had caused social and political discontent.
Three days later, gunmen fired on a security patrol in the east, setting fire to an oil pipeline.Three days later, gunmen fired on a security patrol in the east, setting fire to an oil pipeline.