Alwaght- The Islamic Republic of Iran has strongly condemned a terrorist incident near the Grand Mosque in holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
In a statement on Saturday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi noted that the “thwarted plan” to attack the Grand Mosque “showed once again that the uncontrolled and growing terrorism currently gripping the whole world, the region and especially Muslim nations…, knows no religion, geography, ethnicity and nationality.”
Terrorism, Qassemi warned, could “even take aim at the most revered of Muslim sites to achieve its own ominous goals.” He further cautioned regional governments and countries against “the hideous and sinister phenomenon” of terrorism, calling on all regional nations to be vigilant and make continued efforts to fight the scourge.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran condemns terrorism anywhere, in any form and with any intention, and expresses its readiness to help other countries counter criminals, death merchants and ignorant promoters of hatred,” Qassemi added.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese resistance movement of Hezbollah denounced as a “sinful crime” the Mecca incident, saying it is part of a series of atrocities committed by terrorists across the Arab and Muslim world.
In a statement released on Saturday, Hezbollah’s Media Relations said the attempted attack proved once again that the Takfiris’ criminal ideology “pays no respect to a sacred place or a holy time.”
On Friday, Saudi Arabian security forces said they foiled a terror plot targeting the Grand Mosque in the Islamic holy city of Mecca, exchanging gunfire with one of the suspects who blew himself up inside a home. In a statement, the country’s interior ministry said the plot was part of “self-serving schemes managed from abroad”.
Five people, including a woman, were arrested in security operations in Mecca, interior ministry security spokesman Mansour al-Turki said.
Turki said police “foiled the terrorist plan that targeted the security of the Grand Mosque, pilgrims and worshippers”.
In dawn raids on Mecca and the Red Sea city of Jeddah officers arrested suspects before surrounding the bomber’s location close to the Grand Mosque.
“Unfortunately he started shooting towards security personnel once he noticed their presence in the area, which led to an exchange of fire before he blew himself up,” Turki said
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Previously, al-Qaeda and ISIS Takfiri terrorist groups have claimed responsibility for attack inside Saudi Arabia. The Takfiri groups get their inspiration from the extremist Wahhabi ideology officially practiced by Saudi rulers.
