Medina blast: Saudi city ‘hit by suicide bomber’

A suicide bomber has attacked the Saudi city of Medina, close to the Prophet’s Mosque, one of Islam’s holiest sites, al-Arabiya TV and the Okaz newspaper report.

Footage on al-Arabiya showed a blazing vehicle. There are no details of casualties and no official comment.

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

Earlier, at least one explosion rocked the eastern city of Qatif.

Qatif is home to many minority Shia Muslims and the blast appeared to target a Shia mosque. No casualties have been reported so far.

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

Social media footage from Medina showed a vehicle on fire in a car park, with two security officers lying nearby.

Other footage showed ambulances and police vehicles streaming to the area.

Okaz said the blast took place in the evening, at the time of breaking fast, and may have targeted security forces.

It is not clear who is behind any of the attacks.

The attacks come with the holy month of Ramadan drawing to a close and ahead of the Eid al-Fitr holiday.