4 killed in suicide bombing near Prophet’s Mosque in Medina
A suicide bomber has attacked the Prophet’s Mosque in Saudi Arab’s Medina city, the second most holy site in Islam, as witnesses say body parts of presumed bomber seen in the eastern city of Qatif on Monday night. Reports Saudi-owned al-Arabiya TV.
Citing an official with knowledge of the event, CNN reports, the blast in Medina claimed four lives and wounding another. This is the third attack in the country in the last 24 hours.
Al-Arabiya reported that the two men were breaking their Ramadan fast, when they spotted the attacker. Monday is the last night of the holy month of Ramadan, and marks the beginning of Eid, the biggest festival in the Muslim calendar.
According to the news on aired by the State TV, two Saudi security force members were killed in the bombing.
The suicide bombing took place in a parking lot between the city court and the mosque, visited by millions every year. The channel showed images of fire raging in a parking lot with at least one body seen nearby. The suicide bomber also died in the attack.
The attack near the prophet’s mosque took place during Maghreb prayers, the time when Muslims break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan.
Security forces have cordoned off the area.
Two million visitors have so far arrived at Al-Haram Al-Nabawi during Ramadan to finish recitation of the Quran. The correspondent said the visitors were undeterred and were heading to perform the Isha prayers, which take place soon after the inital fast-breaking prayer.