Several killed and injured after suicide bomber strikes at Saudi Shia mosque

The Imam Ali mosque in the village of al-Qadeeh after the bombing Photo: EPA

(SOURCE)  A suicide bomber blew himself up at a Shia mosque in eastern Saudi Arabia during Friday prayers, residents said, killing and wounding several people.

One witness described a huge explosion at the Imam Ali mosque in the village of al-Qadeeh, a Shia majority province during the main weekly prayers.

He estimated there were at least 30 casualties in the attack, where more than 150 people were praying.

“We were doing the first part of the prayers when we heard the blast,” Kamal Jaafar Hassan, one worshipper, told Reuters by telephone from the scene.

People help a man wounded in the suicide attack on the Shiite Imam Ali mosque (EPA)

The Saudi state news agency confirmed an explosion had occurred at a mosque in eastern Saudi Arabia and said more details would be provided later.

An activist said at least four worshippers were killed and others wounded, and news websites in eastern Saudi Arabia posted photographs of bodies lying in pools of blood.

Qatif hospital issued an urgent call for blood donations after the attack and called in off-duty staff to cope with the high number of casualties, the activist said.

An interior ministry spokesman said an investigation has been opened and more details of the explosion would follow.