The group has claimed responsibility for Sunday’s vehicle bomb attack on a shopping street in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, in which more than 200 people were killed.
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The Saudi Interior Ministry told the state-run news channel that the attacker detonated the bomb when security officers raised questions about him, the Associated Press reported. The targeting of Medina caused widespread outrage.
In a speech marking Aidilfitri, the holiday that celebrates the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, King Salman Abdulaziz Saud said a major challenge facing Saudi Arabia was preserving hope for youth who faced the risk of radicalisation.
This is different though, because this is Saudi Arabia.
The Prophet’s Mosque is particularly crowded during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which is supposed to be a time of charity but has seen spectacular attacks around the region.
Muslim leaders from around the world condemned IS’ actions, with Iran’s Foreign Minister Javed Zarif writing on social media: “There are no more red lines left for terrorists to cross”.
Four security guards were killed in the Medina bombing.
The Senior Council of Ulema accused the jihadist terror group of lacking any respect, and said that it has “no religion or conscience”.
A picture taken July 4, 2016 shows damaged vehicles at the site of the suicide attack near the security headquarters of the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina City.
TH in a statement said such incidents do not reflect the teachings of Islam. Islamic State (IS) says the Saudi rulers are apostates and has declared its intention to topple them. While Isil has previously launched attacks in the country, most have been on Shia Muslim targets or the Saudi security service.
The bombing at the prophet’s mosque killed four security officers and came on same day as attacks in Qatif and Jeddah.
The Saudi Interior Ministry has identified the Jeddah bomber as Pakistani national Abdullah Qlazar Khan.
The Interior Ministry could not be immediately reached for comment.
Monday’s first attack happened in the western Saudi city of Jeddah, where two police officers were wounded in a suicide bombing near the USA consulate in the early hours.
The ministry also said that investigations have led to the arrest of 19 suspects, including 12 Pakistani nationals and 7 Saudis, involved in the attacks in Madinah, Qatif and Jeddah.
On Tuesday, officials identified the suicide bomber who struck outside the U.S. consulate in Jiddah in a third attack on the same day.
It was the third such attack in Saudi Arabia that day.
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No group has yet said it was behind the attacks, but suspicion has fallen on so-called Islamic State (IS).
