Terror Attacks stuns Middle East On the Eve of Eid al-Fitr
Recently, a suicide bomber triggered an explosion, which killed four people outside the Prophet’s mosque located in Medina in Saudi Arabia. The mosque is the second most holy monument as per Islam.
The dead include four members of Saudi security forces. Those members lost their lives near the security headquarters of the mosque.
The dead include four members of Saudi security forces. Those members lost their lives near the security headquarters of the mosque.
According to the reports, the blast took place during sunset. During that, time people were preparing for breaking their fast for Ramadan. Soon after the incident, social media platforms were flooded with pictures showing flames bulging from flames near the mosque.
A Saudi Arabia based newspaper reported that the slain security officers were preparing to break their fast. During that time, a young man approached them. It is predicted that the suicide bomber was around 18 years-of-age. He approached the security officers for sharing food. Then he triggered the explosion.
Qari Ziyaad Patel, a resident of Johannesburg in South Africa said that he was inside the mosque when he heard the explosion. People inside the mosque completed their sunset prayers and were about to break their fast.
However, people did not lose courage. Just hours after the explosion, worshippers in thousands gathered inside the mosque and stood defiantly to offer prayers. A state-owned television channel aired the proceedings of the mosque.
Qari said that many people initially believed that a traditional, celebratory cannon was fired. During the explosion, the ground shook. The explosion sounded as if a building was collapsing. The vibrations of the explosion were strong.
Scores of Muslims visit the mosque during the final days of Ramadan before carrying forward their pilgrimage to Mecca. Muslims believe that Prophet Mohammed built that mosque after arriving in Medina from Mecca.
The attack was third of its kind in less than twenty-four hours. Two explosions were heard near a mosque located in Qatif in Saudi Arabia.
A witness said that one of the explosions ravaged a car that was parked near the mosque. Body parts were found scattered which are believed to be of an attacker.
Mohammed al-Nimr, the brother of the slain Saudi Shia cleric Nirm al-Nirm, said that the attack did not result into injuries. The suicide bomber detonated the suicide vest when many of the residents were indoors for breaking their fast.
Since a long time, Saudi Arabia is on the hit list of Islamic State that killed dozens of people in the country. Local news agencies reported that two suicide bombers targeted the mosque.
Qatif region boasts of highest Shia Muslim population. The Interior Ministry reported that twenty-six terror attacks took place in the country for the past two years. In May 2015, twenty-one people lost their lives in the attack orchestrated by Islamic State affiliates in Qatif.
On June 29, suicide attackers armed with bombs and guns attacked busy Ataturk airport in Istanbul. This attacked killed 41 people and injured many. The Islamic State extremists are allegedly involved in the terror attack.
Another suicide attack took place in Jeddah located on the west coast, with explosive detonated near the US consulate on July 4. It is reported that two security officers received injuries when they were tackling a man to ground. The group behind those attacks has not been identified yet. The attacks were conducted on the eve of Eid al Fitr that marks the end of the pious month of Ramadan.
Multiple, coordinated attacks that were conducted across various cities of Saudi Arabia on the same day shows that extremists are offering the threat of the monarchy. As the monarchy shares a relationship with the west, extremists treat it as an enemy of Islam. Saudi Arabia is a member of US-led coalition force, which is fighting, against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.
During February this year, Prince Turki al-Faisal said that Muslim countries need to play a major role for fighting against terrorism. He made the announcement during the commencement of 18-day military exercise where twenty member countries took part to fight a war against terror groups.
While speaking to reporters, the prince said that he was thankful for almighty as the military exercise started soon.
The prince further said that Muslims have to face the maximum brunt of terrorism. Therefore it is the duty of the Muslim countries to take firm steps against this evil.
The world community is economically and politically strong. It has the capability of preventing terror attacks, said prince in a statement.
Muslim countries that are not part of the alliance are Jordan, Sudan, Pakistan and Iran. Tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia have escalated after the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. The execution led to series of protests in Iran and ransacking of Saudi Arabia embassy. This incident led to soaring of trade and diplomatic ties between two countries.
