Lashkar behind Medina bombings?
The EU Parliament's Vice President Ryszard Czarneck has alleged that the Lashkar-e-Toiba's NGO, Falah-e-Insaniyat was responsible for the Medina bombings.
He pointed to a correlated increase in ISIS activity and LeT activity in West Asia over the last 3 years.
He further alleged that the LeT was using the NGO to spread communal tension and to indoctrinate innocent Muslims into the ways of Jihad.
- Terror attacks in Saudi Arabia
- The Kingdom falls prey to traitors to their own faith
- Attempted attack on the US Consulate
- Shiite mosque attacked in Qatif
- Prophet's Mosque in Medina not spared
- Attacks not claimed by any terror outfit yet
- ISIS' blood-soaked Ramadan campaign
- Jeddah attacker, a Pakistani national: Saudi Internal Ministry
- Saudi Crown Prince's statement
- Muslim leaders condemn Saudi attacks
- 12 Pakistanis arrested over Medina attacks
- Lashkar behind Medina bombings?
Terror attacks in Saudi Arabia
Since mid-2014, Islamic State carried 26 shooting and bombing attacks in Saudi killing scores of civilians, mostly Americans, Shiites, and security personnel.
About a decade ago, an al-Qaeda module, focused on targeting Westerners in Saudi, killed hundreds as it attacked several Western businesses, camps, and residential compounds.
In 2004, Al-Qaeda carried out an attack on the US Consulate in Jeddah that claimed nine lives.
The Kingdom falls prey to traitors to their own faith
As the Saudis were about to break their fast on the penultimate day of the holy Ramadan month, multiple suicide attacks rocked the kingdom.
The first attack took place near the US Consulate in Jeddah during the early hours of 4 July.
The other attacks took place after dusk on 4 July in Qatif and Medina cities approximately at the same time.
Attempted attack on the US Consulate
A suicide bomber tried to attack the US Consulate in Jeddah-Saudi's second largest city during the early hours of 4 July, the American Independence Day.
Reportedly, the bomber arrived in a car and parked it outside a hospital opposite the US Consulate at around 2:15 am (local time).
When two security personnel approached the bomber, he detonated killing himself and wounding the security men.
Shiite mosque attacked in Qatif
Eastern Saudi's Qatif city is home to several members of the Shiite minority in the kingdom.
According to reports, at least one and possibly two suicide bomb explosions shook a Shiite mosque in Qatif at around 7 pm (local time).
A security spokesperson confirmed that apart from the bomber, there were no other casualties as most worshippers left the mosque to break their fast.
Prophet's Mosque in Medina not spared
The final attack also took place at around 7 pm (local time) in Saudi's second most holy city-Medina, at the parking area outside the Prophet's Mosque visited by several pilgrims during Ramadan.
Security personnel reportedly spotted the bomber's suspicious actions in the parking area.
As they confronted the attacker, he detonated his explosive belt killing himself and four security men while injuring five others.
Attacks not claimed by any terror outfit yet
No terror outfit immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
However, initial findings indicate Islamic State's involvement for the targets coincide with IS' declared enemies- Americans, Shiites, and security services.
The attacks carried out by suspected IS members seem to have been planned to coincide with the worldwide bombings ahead of Eid al-Fitr, the festival that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
ISIS' blood-soaked Ramadan campaign
The Islamic State had urged its followers to plan and execute attacks worldwide during the holy Islam month of Ramadan. The outfit had made similar announcements in each of the last three years.
Jeddah attacker, a Pakistani national: Saudi Internal Ministry
Saudi's Internal Ministry released an official statement, in which it identified the Jeddah bomber as a Pakistani working in the kingdom as a driver for over 12 years.
Abdullah Qalzar Khan, the attacker, was a 34-year-old living with his wife and her parents near Jeddah.
According to some media reports, the Medina attacker was also a Pakistani; Pakistan didn't comment on this issue yet.
Saudi Crown Prince's statement
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef bin Abdul-Aziz, also Saudi's First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister, stated: "The security of the homeland is good, it is at its highest levels, and thanks be to God it gets stronger every day."
Muslim leaders condemn Saudi attacks
Muslim leaders across the world condemned the recent bombings in Saudi Arabia and called upon the Muslim world to unite against jihadist forces.
Egypt's foreign ministry stated that the attack on Medina proved that terrorists "know nothing of religion, belief or humanity."
Saudi Arabia's anti-terror Chief Prince Mohammed bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz assured citizens that "the security of the homeland is at its highest."
12 Pakistanis arrested over Medina attacks
Saudi Arabia stated that 12 of the 19 people apprehended in connection with the multiple blasts that rocked the country were Pakistanis.
They added that they identified the attacker who blew himself up in Medina as a 26 year old Saudi national.
They said investigations were underway and that several more arrests could be expected in coming weeks.
Lashkar behind Medina bombings?
The EU Parliament's Vice President Ryszard Czarneck has alleged that the Lashkar-e-Toiba's NGO, Falah-e-Insaniyat was responsible for the Medina bombings.
He pointed to a correlated increase in ISIS activity and LeT activity in West Asia over the last 3 years.
He further alleged that the LeT was using the NGO to spread communal tension and to indoctrinate innocent Muslims into the ways of Jihad.
