Islamic State claims suicide bombing at Saudi Arabian mosque

[Valin]

The Guardian:

Twelve members of emergency services and three mosque workers killed when bomber detonated vest during noon prayers in Asir

Kareem Shaheen in Beirut

Thursday 6 August 2015

 

The Islamic State terror group has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing in a Saudi Arabian mosque that killed at least 15 people, including 12 members of a Saudi special forces unit, the latest in a spate of such attacks in the Gulf kingdom.

 

Isis said in a statement circulated on social media that it had targeted the men because they enabled the rule of Saudi Arabia’s monarchs and their western backers, and because they allegedly tortured Isis sympathisers.

 

The group pledged further attacks in the Arab world, and boasted of its ability to pierce Saudi security measures.

 

The Saudi interior ministry said a bomber wearing suicide vests detonated his explosives during Thursday’s noon prayers at a mosque in the headquarters of the “emergency services” in Abha, the provincial capital of Asir, near the south-western border with Yemen.

 

(Snip)