The Islamic State (IS) group has claimed responsibility for the horrific suicide bombing attack on a shia mosque in Saudi Arabia, which took lives of at least 21 people.
A suicide bomber struck Imam Ali mosque in al-Qadeeh, located in Saudi’s Eastern Province, which was filled with worshipper for Friday prayers.
The Saudi branch of IS, which formally came into being last November, claimed the attack for the first time via a post on Twitter along with an image of the bomber by an account that is a reliable source on the group.
According to Saudi health minister, at least 21 people had been killed and over 80 were injured in the blast, with some being wounded “very critically” as per the doctors.
A spokesman for the Saudi interior ministry said in a statement that “the security authorities will spare no effort in the pursuit of all those involved in this terrorist crime.”
The Sunni extremists of IS have a hatred for the Shia and they were likely to look for an opportunity to worsen the situation between Saudi Arabia’s Shia minority and the rest of the population.
A large Shia Muslim minority of the country is mainly based in the Eastern Province, and there have been protests by the community for greater rights.
The attack comes at the same time when the Saudis are leading a coalition of Arab states in an air campaign against Shia rebels in Yemen.
