Bomber killed, 2 policemen wounded in blast outside U.S. consulate in Jeddah

TIL Desk/World/Riyadh-A suicide bomber blew himself up near the United States consulate in Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea city of Jeddah today, reported a newspaper, which is close to authorities. It said two security officers were hurt “as a result of the failed bombing” on July 4, the day when Americans celebrate their independence. Security officers sealed off the area after “a person blew himself up in a car in front of the US consulate in Jeddah,” the report said.

There was no immediate word on who was responsible, but since late 2014 Saudi Arabian security officers and minority Shiites have been hit by deadly violence claimed by the Islamic State group. The incident happened just before the dawn prayers after which Muslims begin their daily fast during the holy month of Ramadan.

American embassy officers could not be reached immediately, but the Saudi interior ministry said it would issue a statement. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, leader of the IS jihadists which has seized territory in Iraq and Syria, has reputedly called Saudi Arabia’s Sunni rulers “apostate tyrants” and called on Saudis to rise against them. The Sunni extremist IS group also considers Shiites to be heretics.