2 dead in suicide attack on Saudi Shia mosque

A suicide bomber attacked a mosque in Shia-populated eastern Saudi Arabia during Friday prayers, killing two people and wounding seven, the interior ministry said.

It was the latest assault on members of the Sunni-dominated kingdom’s minority community, after earlier shootings and bombings claimed by the ISIS group.

“As a result of the suicide bomber, two people were martyred and seven wounded,” the ministry said in a statement.

Residents said the mosque belonged to the Shia community.

Two bombers tried to get inside the Al-Rida mosque in the Mahasen neighbourhood of Al-Ahsa city during the main weekly prayers but security personnel prevented them, the ministry said.

“When security approached to intercept them, one of them responded by blowing himself up at the mosque entrance while an exchange of fire took place with another,” it said. “He was injured and arrested. A suicide belt was found in his possession.”

Since deadly attacks claimed by ISIS in 2015 against Shia mosques in the kingdom’s east, security has been increased and community guards inspect visitors to houses of worship.

“They bombed the entrance of the mosque during the second prayer,” a resident said.