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Saudi Arabian mosque hit by bomb attack | Saudi Arabian mosque hit by bomb attack |
(about 2 hours 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 that a suicide bomber blew up a car in the city of Dammam in Eastern Province. | Officials said that 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
In Dammam on Friday, a suicide bomber detonated his explosive device outside the al-Anoud mosque in a busy neighbourhood. | In Dammam on Friday, a suicide bomber detonated his explosive device outside the al-Anoud mosque in a busy neighbourhood. |
Islamic State's strategy, by the BBC's Arab Affairs Editor Sebastian Usher | |
The two suicide bombs in seven days against Shia mosques are intended to inflame sectarian tension, the same tactic that IS uses in Iraq and elsewhere. | |
With a Saudi air campaign against Shia rebels in Yemen and a ratcheting up of the confrontation between the Saudis and Iran across the region, the jihadists are seizing the opportunity to sow more hatred. | |
Hardline Saudi preachers have long denounced the Shia, and that rhetoric has only grown fiercer. The Shia have called on the authorities to stem the flow of hate speech. | |
King Salman has promised to crush the militants and many Saudis have been expressing their solidarity with the Shia. | |
IS still has a very long way to go in its aim of destabilising Saudi Arabia through its sectarian divide, but it is using the only method it knows - sectarian violence. | |
A witness told Reuters news agency that he had seen a "quick explosion" and that he had been told that men had prevented the attacker from getting inside the mosque. | A witness told Reuters news agency that he had seen a "quick explosion" and that he had been told that men had prevented the attacker from getting inside the mosque. |
Security forces had become suspicious of a man in 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. | Security forces had become suspicious of a man in 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. | 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. |