Suicide bombing near Saudi holy site

The attack occurred soon after sundown at during the holy month of Ramadan
(Image: Reuters)

A suicide bomber has killed four security officers and injured five others near one of Islam's holiest sites in the Saudi city of Medina, according to the interior ministry.

The bomber detonated his explosives after being stopped outside the Prophet's Mosque, a statement said.

The mosque is the burial place of the Prophet Muhammad and Medina the holiest city in Islam after Mecca.

Suicide blasts also struck two other Saudi cities on Monday.

The fact that an attack happened in Medina at such a place is likely to leave Muslims around the world aghast, BBC World Service's Middle East editor, Alan Johnston, says.

Al-Arabiya gave a different account of the incident, saying the bomber had targeted the security officers by pretending he wanted to break his Ramadan fast with them.

The site is one of Islam's holiest.  (Image:  EPA/SAUDIPRESSAGENCY)

Qari Ziyaad Patel, 36, from South Africa, who was in the mosque, told the Associated Press news agency people had at first thought it was the sound of the cannon fire that marks the breaking of fast.

The ground shook, he said, adding: "The vibrations were very strong. It sounded like a building imploded."

Suspicion is likely to fall on so-called Islamic State (IS), he adds.

A suspected suicide bomber also died after detonating a device near the US consulate in the city of Jeddah in the early hours of Monday. Two security officers were slightly injured as they tackled the man, but no-one else was hurt.

No-one has yet said they were behind any of the attacks.

Medina at a glance

(Image: EPA)

• Islam's second holiest city, after Mecca
• Millions of pilgrims visit every year
• Believed to be the burial place of the Prophet Muhammad

Saudi Arabia has been the target of attacks by IS over the past two years.