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New IS affiliate claims responsibility for Saudi bombing

The attacker struck as men were praying in the mosque in the headquarters of the Special Emergency Force in Abha, the capital of Asir province, a ministry spokesman told state news agency SPA.

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The Saudi interior ministry said the attack killed 15 people.

The ministry earlier put the toll at 13, but later reported two of the wounded had died.

In the middle of last month, a vehicle bomb exploded at a security checkpoint near a prison in the capital Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia is also heading a campaign against Shia-led rebels in neighbouring Yemen.

There have not yet been claims of responsibility for today’s attack.

In July, Saudi Arabia said it arrested 431 suspected members of IS and prevented attacks on mosques, security forces and a diplomatic mission.

“The people and the Government of Pakistan wish to convey their heartfelt sympathies and deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for speedy recovery of the injured”, a statement issued from the office of Foreign Office spokesperson here said.

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack in the Asir region.

On May 22, a suicide bomber detonated himself, killing 21 people, at the Imam Ali mosque in the Persian Gulf-area village of Qudayh, in one of Saudi Arabia’s few Shiite population centers in the majority Sunni kingdom.

The Islamist extremist group ISIS claimed responsibility for the explosion, saying it was caused by a suicide bomber.

On successive Fridays in May suicide bombings at mosques of the minority Shiite community in Eastern Province killed a total of 25 people. The reports said the attack appeared to have been a suicide bombing. They insisted this had thwarted attacks, though today’s bombing suggests ISIS is still able to carry out attacks inside Saudi Arabia. The Islamic State consider Shiites heretics, according to BBC News.

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According to the global Business Times, investigators found remnants of a suicide bombing belt at the scene of Thursday’s attack, while surrounding hospitals urged local residents to donate blood in order to treat the wounded.

Suicide bomber attacks mosque in Saudi Arabia: al Jazeera