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Saudi Arabian mosque hit by bomb attack | Saudi Arabian mosque hit by bomb attack |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A bomb has exploded outside a Shia mosque in Saudi Arabia, reportedly killing at least four people. | A bomb has exploded outside a Shia mosque in Saudi Arabia, reportedly killing at least four people. |
Officials said a suicide bomber blew up a car in the city of Dammam in Eastern Province. | |
The Islamic State (IS) group has said that it was behind the attack in a statement released on social media. | |
At least 21 people were killed in a similar incident one week ago, when a suicide bomber struck during Friday prayers at a Shia mosque. | |
The attack at the Imam Ali mosque in the village of al-Qadeeh was the first to be claimed by the Saudi branch of IS, which was formally established last November. | |
'Quick explosion' | 'Quick explosion' |
In Dammam on Friday, a vehicle reportedly exploded outside the al-Anoud mosque in a busy neighbourhood. | |
A witness told Reuters news agency that he had seen a "quick explosion" and that he had been told that men had tried to stop the bomber. | A witness told Reuters news agency that he had seen a "quick explosion" and that he had been told that men had tried to stop the bomber. |
Security forces had become suspicious of a car near the mosque and had gone to investigate it. It exploded as they approached the vehicle, according to the Saudi Press Agency, SPA. | |
One of those killed is believed to have been the driver of the car. | One of those killed is believed to have been the driver of the car. |
In a statement published online, IS said "a soldier of the Caliphate" was behind the attack on the Shia community. It identified the bomber as Abu Jandal al-Jazrawi. | |
Saudi Arabia has previously been threatened by IS. It is part of a US-led coalition against IS in Syria and Iraq. | Saudi Arabia has previously been threatened by IS. It is part of a US-led coalition against IS in Syria and Iraq. |
The Saudis are also leading a coalition of Arab states in an air campaign against Shia rebels in Yemen. | The Saudis are also leading a coalition of Arab states in an air campaign against Shia rebels in Yemen. |
The country's large Shia Muslim minority is mainly based in the Eastern Province, and there have been sporadic protests by Shia there to call for more rights. | The country's large Shia Muslim minority is mainly based in the Eastern Province, and there have been sporadic protests by Shia there to call for more rights. |