Doha/dammam: Qatar expressed its strong condemnation and denunciation of the bombing that targeted Al Reda Mosque in Al Mahasen district of Al Ahsa governorate in Saudi Arabia, killing four people and injuring 18 during Friday prayers.
The assault on the Imam Rida mosque in the Eastern Province town of Mahasen, a mixed Sunni-Shia district in which there is an extension of a compound where state oil company Aramco employees live.
In statement, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said this criminal act is contrary to all moral and humanitarian values and principles of Islam, expressing confidence in the ability of the Saudi security services to monitor and foil such criminal acts and bring the criminals to justice.
The statement stressed Qatar’s backing for Saudi Arabia and full support for all actions taken to promote security and stability. The ministry expressed sincere condolences to families of the victims, the Saudi government and people, wishing speedy recovery to the injured.
There was no early claim of responsibility but it resembled previous attacks by Sunni militants from Islamic State (IS) on Shias it considers to be heretics. It came less than a month after Saudi Arabia executed 47 people, most of them Al Qaeda militants convicted of attacks in the world’s biggest oil exporting state since 2003.
The Saudi interior ministry said security forces prevented two suicide bombers from entering the mosque, where one blew himself up, killing four people. Security forces exchanged fire with the second man and arrested him.
Witnesses said one suicide bomber blew himself up outside the mosque, causing a power blackout inside. They said worshippers overpowered a second attacker after he opened fire in the mosque where 200 people were performing Friday prayers.
QNA & Reuters
