Ministry: one killed after Saudi mosque blast

The Saudi interior ministry on Monday said at least one was “martyred” after a suicide bomber targeted worshipers who were exiting a mosque after finishing their prayers in the Saudi city of Najran, close to the Yemeni frontier, Al Arabiya News Channel reported.

While the ministry said one was killed, Al Arabiya News Channel reported that at least three people were killed and 19 others were wounded.

Initial reports also said the attacker targeted the worshipers inside al-Mashhad mosque in the southwestern city but the Saudi interior ministry said the incident took place at the courtyard of the mosque.

Further information about the perpetrators behind the deadly incident was not given.

This is not the first time mosques have been targeted by bombers in the kingdom.

In mid-October, five people were killed after a gunman opened fire on a Shiite Muslim meeting hall in the Eastern city of Saihat.

In August, at least 12 security officers were killed after a suicide bombing targeted a mosque used by special forces in the southern Saudi city of Abha.

Roughly half of Najran's population belongs to the Ismaili Shiite community.

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militant group claimed responsibility for two separate attacks which took place in May and August.

The militant group has also targeted Shiite mosques and places in other regional countries including Kuwait and Iraq in attempt to create sectarian strife.