Saudi Arabia: Suicide bomber strikes Shia mosque

A suicide bomber has attacked a Shia mosque in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, causing casualties, BBC reported.

One witness told Reuters news agency there was a huge explosion at the Imam Ali mosque in the village of al-Qadeeh. He estimated there were at least 30 casualties in the attack at the mosque, where more than 150 people were said to be praying. There has so far been no claim of responsibility for the bombing. Television pictures on Lebanon's Hezbollah al-Manar network showed shattered glass and debris next to the tiled pillars inside the mosque. Bodies covered in sheets could be seen laid out on the floor. Saudi Arabia's large Shia Muslim minority is mainly based in the Eastern Province, and there have been sporadic protests by Shia there for greater rights. This would be the first such attack on a Shia mosque there. It comes as the Saudis lead a coalition of Arab states in an air campaign against Shia rebels in neighbouring Yemen. Saudi Arabia has also been threatened by Islamic State, which is being targeted by an international coalition including the Sunni kingdom.