Blast Rocks Saudi Checkpoint at Muslim Holy Site
by VOA News July 04, 2016
An explosion has rocked a checkpoint outside of one of Islam's holiest sites, the Prophet's Mosque in the Saudi city of Medina.
Early video aired on the al-Arabiya network showed fire burning outside the facility with one body visible.The network later reported at least three dead, including the suspected suicide bomber and two security officers.
The mosque -- the second holiest site in Islam -- is the burial site of the Prophet Muhammad, who died in 632 AD.It is visited by millions of Muslims from across the globe each year during pilgrimages to Mecca.
Two other explosions were also reported in the kingdom as the holy month of Ramadan draws to a close.
One blast was linked to a suicide bomber at a Shi'ite mosque in the eastern city of Qatif. No casualties were reported.
Hours earlier, the Saudi Interior Ministry said a suicide bomber blew himself up near the U.S. consulate in the western city of Jeddah.
The U.S. embassy reported no casualties or injuries among its staff.
Saudi Arabia declared Wednesday the first day of Eid al-Fitr -- the start of three-days of festivals across the Muslim world marking the end of the annual fasting month.
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