A suicide bomber detonated his explosives near the US consulate in the Saudi city of Jeddah early Monday that left two security personnel injured, according to local media.
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As they approached, the man triggered his suicide belt and there was an explosion in the auto park of the Dr Soliman Fakeeh Hospital.
Saudi state TV said that the attacker parked his vehicle outside a hospital opposite the consulate in the early morning hours and detonated his device after being approached by the two security men, killing him and lightly wounding them.
A picture carried by the Sabq online newspaper, which is close to authorities, showed what appeared to be the remains of a man lying on the ground between a taxi and the open door of another auto that was peppered with holes. Saudi state news channel Al-Ekhbaria said there was a mosque nearby.
The bombing coincides with the national holiday, Independence Day in the United States.
Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Most of the consulate’s staff had reportedly moved offices to a new location.
The U.S. consulate was the scene of an attack in 2004, when five employees and four gunmen were killed.
The US embassy in Saudi Arabia asked the American to take extra precautions when travelling throughout the country.
Monday’s attack came just days before the end of the holy month of Ramadan, during which observant Muslims fast daily from dawn to dusk.
The US State Department has confirmed all personnel are accounted for.
According to an AP report, the USA officials are aware of reports of the explosion and are working with Saudi authorities to collect more information.
One of the suspects was sought in connection with the suicide bombing of a mosque inside a Saudi special forces compound in the southwestern city of Abha last August.
The extremist group views the Western-allied Saudi monarchy and government as heretics.
In June, the Interior Ministry reported 26 terror attacks in the kingdom in the last two years.
It was not immediately clear who may have been behind Monday’s incident, but since late 2014 Saudi security officers and minority Shiites have been hit by deadly violence claimed by IS.
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The U.S. Embassy regularly issues advisory messages for U.S. citizens in Saudi Arabia. It also advised citizens to “carefully consider the risks of traveling to Saudi Arabia”.
