Twelve Pakistani nationals are among the 19 people arrested in Saudi Arabia in connection with the suicide attacks on Monday, including one near Islam’s second-holiest site in the city of Medina, an AFP report said today quoting the kingdom’s Interior Ministry.
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According to a statement released by the Saudi Interior Ministry, the suicide bomber who killed four security officers near Masjid-i-Nabvi has also been identified as Naer Muslim Hamad.
They have been named as Abdulrahman Saleh Mohammed, Ibrahim Saleh Mohammed and Abdelkarim al-Hesni, and are all understood to be in their early 20s.
Outrage spread on Tuesday after the suicide bombing at Medina.
The ministry said the deadly Medina attack occurred during sunset prayers after which Muslims break their Ramadan fast.
Three terrorists carried out the attack in Shia-dominated Gulf city of Qatif. It also showed footage of SaudiKing Salman’s son and the Governor of Medina, Prince Faisal bin Salman, visiting security officers wounded in the blast and the site of the explosion. The city is a major spot in Islam because that’s where the Prophet Mohammed is buried.
The Saudi interior ministry said security forces became suspicious of the bomber when he was heading for the Prophet’s Mosque through a parking lot.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but Islamic State has previously carried out similar bombings. “These attacks underscore the scope of the threat we all face and remind us of the need to continue to stay focused on combating violent extremism and bringing those responsible for it to justice”, Kirby said.
Sunni extremists from IS claimed, or weer blamed for, a suicide bombing in Baghdad on Sunday that killed more than 200 people as well as other attacks in Bangladesh and at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport.
“This is one of the holiest sites in Islam, and for such an attack to take place there, during Ramadan, can be considered a direct attack on Muslims all across the world”, he added.
“Information on the safety aspects would be briefed by TH to all pilgrims from Malaysia before they head to the Makkah to perform the Haj”, said TH.
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Saudi security officials say IS supporters inside the kingdom mainly act independently from the group in Iraq and Syria, which are its main areas of operation.
