At least 20 killed in Shia Mosque bombing in Saudi Arabia’s Qatif

At least 20 people have lost their lives and a number of others sustained injuries in a bomb explosion that ripped through a Shia mosque in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province.

The aftermath of a bombing attack against Imam Ali (PBUH) Mosque in the Qatif region in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, May 22, 2015

People react following a bomb attack against Imam Ali (PBUH) Mosque in the Qatif region in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, May 22, 2015.

First responders carry victims following a bombing attack against Imam Ali (PBUH) Mosque in the Qatif region in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, May 22, 2015.

The photo shows the aftermath of a bomb attack at Imam Ali (PBUH) Mosque in the village of al-Qadeeh, Saudi Arabia, May 22, 2015. (© Al-Riyadh newspaper)

The photo shows the aftermath of a bomb attack at Imam Ali (PBUH) Mosque in the village of al-Qadeeh, Saudi Arabia, May 22, 2015. (© Al-Riyadh newspaper)

The aftermath of a bomb attack at Imam Ali (PBUH) Mosque in the village of al-Qadeeh, Saudi Arabia, May 22, 2015 (© Al-Riyadh newspaper)

People gather following a bomb attack at Imam Ali (PBUH) Mosque in the village of al-Qadeeh, Saudi Arabia, May 22, 2015. (© Al-Riyadh newspaper)

First responders carry victims following a bombing attack against a mosque in the Qatif region in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, May 22, 2015.
Security sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the attack took place at Imam Ali (PBUH) Mosque in the village of al-Qadeeh, located in the oil-rich kingdom’s Qatif district and more than 420 kilometers (260 miles) east of the capital, Riyadh, when a bomber blew himself up as more than 150 people had gathered for Friday prayers.

“We were doing the first part of the prayers when we heard the blast,” Kamal Jaafar Hassan, one of the worshipers, said.

On November 3, 2014, masked gunmen stormed a group of Shia Muslims participating in a ceremony marking the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (PBUH), the third Shia Imam, in the village of al-Dalwah in al-Ahsa Governorate of Eastern Province, and opened fire as people were observing Ashura, the 10th day of the lunar month of Muharram.

This is a developing story.