DOHA
Twenty-one people were killed and 102 others hurt Friday when a suicide bomber blew himself up inside a Shia mosque in the eastern Saudi province of Qatif, the Saudi Health Ministry has said.
The bombing left "123 casualties, 21 of whom have died, 50 have been treated, and 52 are currently receiving medical care", the ministry said on Twitter.
Saudi Interior Ministry spokesman Mansour al-Turki, for his part, said that "a man concealing an explosive belt under his clothing detonated the charge during Friday prayer in the town of Qudayh in the [eastern] Qatif province".
"Concerned authorities have transferred the casualties to the hospital and this terrorist crime is currently under investigation," state SPA news agency quoted al-Turki as saying.
Meanwhile, a statement attributed to Daesh on Twitter claimed responsibility for the bombing, sharing the name and photo of the alleged perpetrator.
"We cannot confirm those details. I know the Saudis are doing an investigation right now," said State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf while condemning the attack.
The attack Friday was the first to target the predominantly Shia eastern part of Saudi Arabia under King Salman bin Abdulaziz, who came to power in January.
