At least five killed in Saudi Arabia mosque shooting
- 10 years ago
At least five people have been killed and many more wounded after masked gunmen opened fire on a Shi’ite mosque in Saudi Arabia.
The shooting took place as worshippers were marking one of their most important religious anniversaries, Ashoura, to commemorate the death of the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.
It happened late on Monday evening in the village of al-Dalwah, in the country’s eastern al-Ahsa region, the heart of the Shi’ite community.
Six people are understood to have been arrested.
Shi’ites are a minority in Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia and say they are discriminated against in educational and job opportunities and restricted in their worship.
The shooting may test already strained relations between Sunnis and Shi’ites across the Middle East.
The shooting took place as worshippers were marking one of their most important religious anniversaries, Ashoura, to commemorate the death of the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.
It happened late on Monday evening in the village of al-Dalwah, in the country’s eastern al-Ahsa region, the heart of the Shi’ite community.
Six people are understood to have been arrested.
Shi’ites are a minority in Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia and say they are discriminated against in educational and job opportunities and restricted in their worship.
The shooting may test already strained relations between Sunnis and Shi’ites across the Middle East.