Muslim world condemns Saudi holy site bombing

Riyadh: A deadly suicide bombing near Islam’s second-holiest site in the Saudi city of Medina sparked condemnation across the Muslim world on Tuesday, with even the Taliban and Hezbollah denouncing the attack. Four people were killed in the bombing near the Prophet’s Mosque that came as Muslims prepared for this week’s Id al Fitr festival marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramzan.

The attack near the mosque — where the Prophet Mohammed is buried and which attracts millions of pilgrims each year — was one of three in the Sunni-ruled kingdom on Monday. The targeting of Medina caused shock and outrage across Islam’s religious divide. Shiite power Iran called for Muslim unity and the Afghan Taliban branded it “gruesome”.