Root out Terrorism: Bahrain condemns suicide bombing in Saudi

Manama

 The Kingdom of Bahrain has condemned the terrorist attack, which targeted Al Anoud mosque in Dammam, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia yesterday. An Islamic State (IS) jihadist killed three people and wounded four when he blew himself up in a car outside the Shia mosque, the second such attack in a week.

Bahrain warned that such terrorist acts aim to ignite sectarian and religious sedition among Muslims and drag them into abhorred subversive conflicts for all.

 The Kingdom of Bahrain offered its condolences to the families and relatives of the victims and hailed the efforts of the Saudi King, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, in combating terrorism, regionally and internationally.

The kingdom affirmed its support for the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to all the steps it takes to reinforce security nationwide. “Saudi Arabia’s security is an integral part of that of the Arab and Islamic nations. It necessitates a united Arab stand and an international solidarity to uproot terrorism,” the government said in a statement.

 The suicide bomber -- disguised in women's clothing -- detonated his device at the entrance to the mosque during Friday prayers, the official Saudi Press Agency cited a Ministry spokesman as saying.

"Authorities have managed to foil a terrorist crime targeting people performing the Friday prayers at Al Anoud mosque in Dammam," the capital of Eastern Province,” he said. 

The bomber "detonated the explosive belt he was wearing at the mosque entrance as security officials were on their way to inspect him", the spokesman added. “The explosion happened just as the attacker's vehicle stopped at a car park near the mosque.”

Meanwhile, IS, in a statement on Twitter claimed the responsibility of the attack, which, it said, was carried out by "soldier of the caliphate Abu Jandal al-Jazrawi". It said the bomber managed to "reach the target despite heavy protection" outside the Al Anoud mosque.

Friday's blast comes exactly seven days after the jihadist group sent a suicide bomber into another Shia mosque in a village in Eastern Province. Twenty-one people were killed in the May 22 blast, which was also claimed by IS.