Unholy act sparks global outrage, condemnation

Saudi security personnel gather at the site of the suicide attack near the security headquarters of the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah City on Monday. (AFP)

JEDDAH: World leaders expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia on Tuesday as they condemned Monday’s terror attacks that killed four policemen and injured five.
Four suicide bombers were also killed in the attacks — the first at 2:15 a.m. near the US Consulate in Jeddah, followed by almost simultaneous attacks near the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah and two outside the Faraj Al-Omran Mosque in Qatif.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif received messages of support and condolences from government and religious leaders from around the world.
Among those who called or sent messages were Jordan’s King Abdallah, Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Sudan’s President Omar Bashir and Kuwait’s Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.
The leaders condemned the bombings and expressed their full solidarity with the Kingdom in its fight against terror.
Jordan’s king said his country stood by Saudi Arabia in its fight against terrorism.
Sheikh Tamim said Qatar stands by Saudi Arabia and fully supports all actions taken by the Kingdom to confront terrorism and to protect its security and stability.
President Omar Bashir said everything that affects the Kingdom and its people affects Sudan. He prayed to Allah Almighty for the speedy recovery of the injured.
Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday received a phone call from Pakistan Army Chief Gen. Raheel Sharif who condemned the bombings and pledged Pakistan’s full support to the Kingdom in wiping out the scourge of terrorism.
UAE’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan said: “We stand in solidarity with our brothers in Saudi Arabia in their fight against the crimes of terrorism whose goals are to spread fear, takfir (branding others as infidels) and incite strife.”
Sheikh Abdullah stressed that the stability of Saudi Arabia is the main pillar of the stability of the UAE and the whole of the Gulf Arab region.
Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said the attack during the month of Ramadan near one of Islam’s most sacred places confirms that terrorism “knows no religion or belief or any meaning of humanity.”