Skip to main content

Suicide bomber attacks near U.S. consulate in Saudi Arabia

Saudi policemen stand guard at the site where a suicide bomber blew himself up in the early hours of July 4 near the American consulate in the Red Sea city

Saudi policemen stand guard at the site where a suicide bomber blew himself up in the early hours of July 4 near the American consulate in the Red Sea city

A suicide bomber blew himself up near the American consulate in Jidda, Saudi Arabia, early Monday morning, injuring two people, the Saudi government said in a statement to its official news agency.

The blast happened shortly before 3 a.m. local time near the parking lot of a hospital across the street from the consulate, according to an unnamed Interior Ministry spokesman who spoke to the Saudi Press Agency. He said two police officers had been treated at the hospital for minor injuries.

A grisly streak of large-scale attacks by jihadists linked to the Islamic State has killed more than 200 people in three countries in the past week. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing in Jidda, a port city on the Red Sea.

Video posted to Twitter from Jidda showed no visible damage to nearby buildings. Emergency vehicles sat in the street, their flashing lights bouncing off cars that drove slowly past.

Another photo shared widely on social media showed a white car said to belong to the attacker. Its driver’s-side door was flung open, and what appeared to be human remains lay on the pavement nearby.

In 2004, militants from a group calling itself Al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia stormed the heavily fortified consulate, using explosives to breach its walls. They took employees hostage and engaged in a fierce firefight with Saudi security forces and United States Marines. Five non-American employees of the consulate were killed.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Houthis Claim Attack on Central Israel in Response to Gaza ‘Massacres’

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has taken a concerning regional turn as the Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for an attack on central Israel. The group announced this as part of their escalating response to what they describe as "massacres" in Gaza amid the Israeli military’s operations in the strip. Details of the Attack The Houthis, a Shiite militant group with ties to Iran, declared that they launched missile and drone strikes targeting Israel. While the exact impact of these attacks remains unclear, reports suggest that Israel’s defense systems intercepted several threats over its airspace. This marks a significant escalation as the Houthis widen their involvement in the conflict beyond their typical operations within Yemen and neighboring Saudi Arabia. The Houthis’ Justification In their statement, the Houthis framed the attack as retaliation for Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which they characterized as indiscriminate bombings resultin...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fall of Assad is a Blow to Russia's Prestige

The potential fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a long-standing ally of Russia, would mark a turning point in Moscow’s global influence, particularly in the Middle East. Steve Rosenberg’s analysis underscores the profound implications for Russia, which has invested heavily—both militarily and politically—in ensuring Assad’s survival over the past decade. This article delves into why Assad’s downfall would strike at the core of Russian prestige and what it could mean for the broader geopolitical landscape. Russia's Strategic Commitment to Syria Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Russia has been a staunch supporter of Assad's regime. In 2015, Moscow launched a military intervention that proved decisive in stabilizing Assad’s hold on power. This intervention solidified Russia's role as a key power broker in the Middle East and demonstrated its willingness to project military power far beyond its borders. Syria is not just an ally for Russia; it is a...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fire: UniJos Senate convenes emergency meeting on Monday

Fire at the University of Jos Library University of Jos is to convene an emergency senate meeting on Monday to review the level of damage done to the institution by the Saturday night inferno. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sebastian Maimako, disclosed this on Sunday after inspecting areas affected by the incident. The fire, which lasted for more than six hours, destroyed the Library Complex that equally houses the faculties of management and social sciences. The fire also destroyed examination scripts, books and very crucial materials. Consequently, the vice-chancellor said “the Senate will meet tomorrow (Monday) to take a decision about the unmarked examination scripts that were burnt.” On the cause of the inferno, Maimako said investigation had commenced, adding that “nothing has been confirmed yet. We are still investigating.” The vice chancellor said the school was already working with federal authorities toward establishing a main fire station since the mini fire station in t...
Post a Comment
Read more