Alert security averts catastrophe

JEDDAH: Three people were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside the Anoud Mosque in Dammam while the Friday congregational prayer was under way, the Interior Ministry said. The bomber, disguised as a woman, proceeded to the women's section, but could not enter as the gate was locked. He then went to the men's section but was stopped by security men there. Then he went to the car and blew himself up The blast caused a fire that spread to nearby parked cars. “Security men foiled an attempt to carry out a terror attack on worshippers performing the Friday prayer at Anoud Mosque in Dammam. When security men saw a suspicious looking car heading for the parking area close to the mosque, they approached it and it was then that the explosion took place near the car, killing four people (including the bomber), one of them believed to be the car driver,” Interior Ministry Spokesman Ministry Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki said. Four people who were not seriously injured were admitted to hospital. A probe has been launched into the crime. Health Minister Khalid Al-Falih, who is closely monitoring developments, ordered all necessary services for the blast victims. Residents circulated pictures of a badly disfigured body of a man believed to be the bomber as well as pictures of a huge plume of black smoke billowing over a parking lot outside the mosque. It is the second bomb attack on a Saudi mosque in a week. On May 22, 21 people were killed as worshippers attended Friday prayers at a mosque in Al-Qadeeh, Qatif, in the eastern region of the country. Meanwhile, the Commission of Senior Scholars condemned the dastardly attack and said terrorist groups have revealed their ugly faces in targeting Ali bin Abi Talib Mosque in Qatif and Al-Anoud Mosque in Dammam. Fahad Al-Majed, secretary-general of the commission, said: “Islam banned attacks on houses of worship even in legitimate wars. It is unbelievable to target mosques in a Muslim country that follows Shariah and serves the Two Holy Mosques.” -arabnews