Saudi mosque bombing targets police, 17 dead

A “terrorist” bomb targeting a mosque used by Saudi Arabian police has killed at least 17 people in the southern city of Abha, state television El-Ikhbariya reported.

A Saudi Interior Ministry official told the Associated Press that the bomb ripped through a mosque on Thursday that was being used by security officials. The Saudi interior ministry didn’t immediately respond to a call seeking confirmation of the bombing.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but blame is likely to fall on Islamic State (IS), whose local affiliate has claimed responsibility for a number of attacks in recent months. Two Shiite mosques were targeted earlier this year, with 21 worshippers killed in the deadliest strike in May in the kingdom’s oil-rich eastern province. They were praying when the bomber struck within their ranks, he said.

Saudi Arabia is also heading a campaign against Shia-led rebels in neighbouring Yemen.