Saudi Arabia: UN condemns bomb attacks in three cities, including near mosque in Medina

5 July 2016 - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned yesterday's terrorist attacks in the cities of Jeddah, Qatif and Medina in Saudi Arabia.

"These crimes are all the more despicable as they were carried out as residents were preparing for Eid al-Fitr celebrations to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan," the Secretary-General said in a statement issued today by his spokesperson's office.

Two security officers were wounded in the city of Jeddah shortly after midnight in Monday's first bombing attack, according to reports. The second attack took place outside a Shia mosque in the city of Qatif, while four security officers were reportedly killed and five others were injured in another attack near the Mosque of the Prophet in Medina.

Expressing his deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government and people of Saudi Arabia, the Secretary-General said he hoped that those responsible for the crimes will be identified and brought to justice.

"He stresses the need to intensify regional and international efforts to prevent and combat terrorism," the statement said. Mr. Ban also wished a speedy recovery to those injured.

Also today, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, deplored the attack in Medina.

"This is one of the holiest sites in Islam, and for such an attack to take place there, during Ramadan, can be considered a direct attack on Muslims all across the world," said Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in a press briefing note.

"The significance of this attack cannot simply be measured in terms of the four policemen who were reported to have been killed, and the physical damage. It is an attack on the religion itself," the spokesperson added.