At Least 15 Killed in Suicide Bomb Attack on Saudi Arabia Mosque

An explosion at a mosque in a local security facility in Abha, in southwestern Saudi Arabia, killed at least 15 people, including 12 members of the country’s security forces, the kingdom’s Interior Ministry said Thursday.

MANAMA (Sputnik) — According to ministry preliminary information, a suicide bomber detonated explosives during Thursday’s afternoon prayers in a mosque located in a local security force headquarters.

According to the US-based monitoring group SITE, the Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for the attack.

In May, two major terrorist attacks in Shiite mosques in the east of Saudi Arabia killed more than 20 people. Both blasts were carried out by a Saudi branch of ISIL. Following the explosions, Saudi Arabian law enforcement arrested over 400 people on suspicion of having links with the extremist group.

Saudi Arabia has been launching airstrikes against ISIL targets in Syria as part of the US-led coalition against the militant group.