Bomber blows self up 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, 2016 near the American consulate in the Red Sea city of Jeddah. Security officers became suspicious of a man near the parking lot of Dr Suleiman Faqeeh Hospital, which is directly across from the US diplomatic mission. When they moved in to investigate “he blew himself up with a suicide belt inside the hospital parking” at around 2:15 am, the ministry said, adding that two security officers were lightly injured.<br />STRINGER / AFP
A suspected suicide bomber has died after blowing himself up near the United States (U.S.) Consulate in Saudi Arabia’s city of Jeddah, the interior ministry has said.
Security officers early yesterday became suspicious of a man near the parking lot of Dr. Suleiman Faqeeh Hospital, which is directly across from the U.S. diplomatic mission.
When they moved in to investigate, “he blew himself up with a suicide belt inside the hospital parking”, the ministry said, adding that two security officers were lightly wounded.
The attack happened at around 2:15am (23:15 GMT) yesterday, the day when Americans celebrate their independence.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
An investigation was ongoing, and some people were being questioned for their suspected links to the attack, security sources told Al Jazeera .
In a statement, the U.S. Consulate said there were no casualties or injuries among its staff, adding that it and the U.S. embassy were in contact with Saudi authorities investigating the incident.
The U.S. State Department also said it was aware of the explosion in Jeddah and it was working with Saudi authorities to collect more information.
In 2004, five people stormed the U.S. consulate in Jeddah with bombs and guns, killing four Saudi security personnel outside and five local staff within.
Three of the attackers were killed in the assault and two were captured.
