Massive funeral held for victims of terror attack in Saudi Arabia

Hundreds of thousands of people have taken part in a mass funeral for the victims of a recent terrorist attack on a Shia mosque in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, as officials in Riyadh claim to have identified the attacker.

Mourners gathered in Saihat municipality, near the city of Dammam, the capital of Eastern Province, on Wednesday for the burial of four men killed in the terrorist attack in the city.

Mohammed al-Arbash, his brother Abdul Jalil, Mohammed Eisa and Abdul Hadi al-Hashim were killed in a bomb attack outside al-Anoud mosque during Friday prayers in Dammam on May 29. The men have been hailed as heroes as they reportedly tried to prevent the attacker from entering the mosque.

Dammam attacker ‘identified’

Later in the day, the Saudi Interior Ministry issued a statement saying it has identified the man behind last week’s attack in al-Anoud.

The statement said the perpetrator of the attack in Dammam “has been identified as Khalid Ayed Mohammed Al-Wahabi Al-Shammari.” The 19-year-old attacker was a Saudi national, it added.

The statement, carried by the official Saudi Press Agency, also said the interior ministry has promised to offer cash rewards worth one million riyals (about USD 267,000) for information leading to the arrest of the 16 suspects wanted in connection with the Dammam attack and another bombing in Eastern Province.

More than a week ago, tens of thousands held a similar funeral for victims of a bomb attack at a mosque in the village of Qudaih in the Qatif region on May 22, where 21 people died.

The Takfiri ISIL terrorists, which control parts of Syria and Iraq, have claimed responsibility for both attacks on Shia mosques in Eastern Province.

Fears were high of a similar attack on the Shia mourners as hundreds of volunteers were guarding the surrounding areas in a bid to protect people attending the Wednesday event.

“We are anxious something will happen in future but we are taking care,” volunteer Ibrahim Abu Ahmed told reporters inside the mosque.

Other volunteers were searching people while cranes were busy placing heavy concrete barriers around the mosque.

“This is a house of God. We should protect it,” said another volunteer, who refused to be identified, adding, “Now all Shias [form] one line to protect ourselves from terrorism.”

“We strongly expect that there will be other attacks,” said Radi Turaiki before the funeral ceremony, adding, however, that the bombing has not discouraged people from turning out “more than any year” to attend their religious ceremonies marking birthday of Imam Mahdi (Peace Be Upon Him).

The 45-year-old teacher said that the Saudi government has adopted almost no measures to protect the people attending the religious gatherings and the Wednesday funeral.

MS/HSN/GHN

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