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Saudi Arabia: Suicide bomber strikes Shia mosque Saudi Arabia: Suicide bomber strikes Shia mosque
(about 1 hour later)
A suicide bomber has attacked a Shia mosque in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, causing casualties, state media say. At least four people are reported to have been killed in a suicide bombing at a Shia mosque in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province.
One witness told Reuters news agency there was a huge explosion at the Imam Ali mosque in the village of al-Qadeeh. One witness told Reuters news agency there was a huge explosion at the Imam Ali mosque in the village of al-Qadeeh, in Qatif governorate.
He estimated there were at least 30 casualties in the attack at the mosque, where more than 150 people were said to be praying. Several people were injured in the blast.
There has so far been no claim of responsibility for the bombing. Incidents of this kind in the Eastern Province are rare. There has so far been no claim of responsibility.
Television pictures on Lebanon's Hezbollah al-Manar network showed shattered glass and debris next to the tiled pillars inside the mosque. Bodies covered in sheets could be seen laid out on the floor. Television pictures on Lebanon's Hezbollah-run al-Manar network showed shattered glass and debris next to the tiled pillars inside the mosque, where scores were said to have been praying.
Bodies covered in sheets could be seen laid out on the floor, while injured people in bloodstained clothes were rushed out on stretchers.
Qatif hospital issued an urgent call for blood donations after the attack and called in off-duty staff to cope with the high number of casualties, a source told AFP news agency.
Air campaign
Saudi Arabia's large Shia Muslim minority is mainly based in the Eastern Province, and there have been sporadic protests by Shia there for greater rights.Saudi Arabia's large Shia Muslim minority is mainly based in the Eastern Province, and there have been sporadic protests by Shia there for greater rights.
This would be the first such attack on a Shia mosque there. This attack comes as the Saudis lead a coalition of Arab states in an air campaign against Shia rebels in neighbouring Yemen.
It comes as the Saudis lead a coalition of Arab states in an air campaign against Shia rebels in neighbouring Yemen. Saudi Arabia has also been threatened by Islamic State (IS), which is being targeted by a US-led coalition including the Sunni kingdom.
Saudi Arabia has also been threatened by Islamic State, which is being targeted by an international coalition including the Sunni kingdom. In November last year an audio recording purported to be from IS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi called on Saudi followers to attack Shia targets.
More than 2,000 Saudis are believed to have joined IS, with hundreds having returned home. Saudi Arabia has launched a security crackdown in recent months, arresting hundreds of IS suspects.