The Islamic State (IS) group has claimed responsibility for an attack on a non-Muslim cemetery in the Saudi city of Jeddah overlooking the Red Sea, resulting in several injuries.
In a statement issued on its official Telegram channel, the group said that its « soldiers » managed to hide a homemade bomb in the cemetery, and then it exploded after a number of « consuls of the Crusader countries » gathered there.
The explosion, which occurred during the commemorations of World War I, was the second security incident in Jeddah in the past two weeks, and the first explosive attack in years to attempt to strike foreigners in the conservative kingdom
ISIS said in a statement to the Amaq News Agency that it had targeted the French consul who was attending the ceremony due to his country publishing cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad
The Greek Foreign Ministry said that a Greek policeman working in the country’s consulate in Jeddah was injured
Saudi media quoted a local official as saying that a Saudi security officer was lightly injured.
Wednesday marks the 102nd anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I, and it is also celebrated in many European countries
The bombing came in the wake of a stabbing attack last month that slightly injured a guard at the French Consulate in Jeddah.
France has been the target of three attacks in recent weeks that authorities have attributed to Islamic extremists
ISIS has not carried out any large-scale attacks in Saudi Arabia since 2015, when an ISIS suicide bomber attacked a mosque inside a police compound
The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in The Hague was hit by bullets in the early hours of Thursday morning, leaving holes in the façade and several windows
A spokesman for Stephen Van Santen said police were alerted at around 6 a.m. (local time) to shoot the building on a luxury street across from a canal in the Dutch city.
Officers found several bullet casings outside the building and began an investigation, including an appeal by witnesses.
Police later said they arrested a 40-year-old man from the nearby town of Zuttermere on suspicion of involvement in the shooting.
In a statement, the embassy condemned the « cowardly attack » and urged Saudi citizens in the Netherlands to exercise extreme caution and be careful.
The Dutch Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it is dealing with the shooting incident « very seriously » and that it is in close contact with the Saudi authorities.
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The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Islam, Jeddah, World War I
World News – African Union – ISIS claims responsibility for the attack on Memorial Day event
