TerrorismSuicide bombers attack mosque in Medina, other Saudi targets
In an escalation of violence in Saudi Arabia, suicide bombers on Monday killed four Saudi security forces in an attack outside the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, one of the two holiest sites in Islam. The bombing outside the Medina mosque was one of a series of attacks in Saudi Arabia on Monday. The bombings reflected ISIS strategy of targeting of Shia Muslims and U.S. interests, as well as attacking targets important to Sunni regimes which ISIS regard as corrupt.. Experts note, though, that the attack on or near one of the holiest sites in Islam is a significant escalation in ISIS campaign.
In an escalation of violence in Saudi Arabia, suicide bombers on Monday killed four Saudi security forces in an attack outside the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, one of the two holiest sites in Islam.
The bombing outside the Medina mosque was one of a series of attacks in Saudi Arabia on Monday. Today, Tuesday, is Eid al-Fitr festival which marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
CNN reports that early Monday morning, Saudi officers foiled an attempted bombing near the U.S. consulate in Jeddah. Later in the day, a suicide bomber attacked a mosque in the Shia-majority province of Qatif.
Millions of Muslim pilgrims from all over the world visit the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina. It was founded by Muhammad in the seventh century, and is home to his tomb as well as the tombs of the first two caliphs, Abu Bakr and Omar. The mosque complex is second only to the Grand Mosque in Mecca in its importance to both Sunnis and Shias.
No organization claimed responsibility for the attack, but security experts say that the bombings in Qatif and Jeddah reflected ISIS strategy of targeting of Shia Muslims and U.S. interests, as well as attacking targets important to Sunni regimes which ISIS regard as corrupt.
Saudi security authorities said early on Tuesday that a Pakistani man — Abdullah Qalzar Khan, 34 — who came to the kingdom twelve years ago to work as a driver, had carried out the Medina attack.
Saudi media reported that the attacker planned to strike the mosque when it was crowded with thousands of worshippers gathered for the sunset prayer.
ISIS has claimed responsibility for deadly attacks in Istanbul, Baghdad, and Dhaka – appearing to look for targets beyond its strongholds in northern Iraq and eastern Syria, where the Islamist organization has been losing ground, resources, and men as a result of a sustained air attacks by the U.S.-led coalition, and effective ground attacks by Kurds in both Syria and Iraq, and recent campaigns by the Iraqi army.
Experts note, though, that the attack on or near one of the holiest sites in Islam is a significant escalation in ISIS campaign.
