Explosions rock Holy Mosque of Saudi; Panic Grips Muslims Worldwide

There is palpable fear among Islamic fateful following suicide bomber that killed four security officers and injured five others near one of Islam’s holiest sites in the Saudi city of Medina, according to the interior ministry.

The bomber detonated his explosives after being stopped outside the Prophet’s Mosque, a statement said. The mosque is the burial place of the Prophet Muhammad and Medina the holiest city in Islam after Mecca. Suicide blasts also struck two other Saudi cities on Monday.

The fact that an attack happened in Medina at such a place is likely to devastate Muslims around the world, SECURITY MONITOR learnts that the blast may likely fall on so-called Islamic State (IS), he adds.

Al-Arabiya gave a different account of the incident, saying the bomber had targeted the security officers by pretending he wanted to break his Ramadan fast with them.

Qari Ziyaad Patel, 36, from South Africa, who was in the mosque, told the Associated Press news agency people had at first thought it was the sound of the cannon fire that marks the breaking of fast.

The ground shook, he said, adding: “The vibrations were very strong. It sounded like a building imploded.”

Earlier, at least one explosion rocked Qatif, an eastern city which is home to many minority Shia Muslims.

The blast appeared to target a Shia mosque. The attacker was killed but no other casualties were reported.

However, a cross section of Islamic faithful who spoke with SECURITY MONITOR lament the security situation in the Asian, Arab and other middle east countries may have adverse effect on the pilgrimage to the Holy Land Of Mecca.