Tension is running high in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, days after a deadly bomb attack targeting a Shiite mosque killed 21 worshippers.
Residents of the al-Qadeeh town, where the attack took place, voiced their anger on Sunday at the Saudi government’s lack of care for their safety. The residents complained that security forces have left their communities unprotected, World Bulletin reported.
“The government should protect people and if they don’t, this is the government’s fault,” said Naseema Assada, a resident of Qatif city near the stricken town, adding that “the situation is strange.”
Some were also criticizing the government for deploying thousands of security forces across the province after the bombing, saying that the deployment should have taken place before the deadly attack.
On Saturday, the government identified the bomber as Salih bin Abdulrahman Salih al-Ghishaami, a citizen of Saudi Arabia.
According to Saudi interior ministry, “He was wanted by security services for belonging to a terrorist cell receiving directions from the Islamic State abroad.”
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman also said on Sunday he was heartbroken over the death of 21 people at the Imam Ali Mosque, state news agency SPA reported. he said anyone linked to the attack, claimed by the IS, or who sympathized with it, would be brought to justice.
