By Eman Nassar

AL-AHSA,  (AA): Four people were killed and 18 others were injured in a suicide attack that targeted a Shia Muslim mosque during Friday prayer in the eastern province of al-Ahsa, the Saudi Ministry of Interior said through Twitter.

“Security forces managed to observe the suicide bombers as they headed to the mosque. One of them, however, detonated his explosive belt in the mosque’s entrance when security forces approached him. The other was arrested after clashes with security forces,” the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) quoted an interior ministry official as saying.

An activist, citing witnesses, told Reuters earlier that an explosion was followed by gun attack on Imam Rida Mosque.

Residents said security forces were exchanging gunfire with five suspects.

Saudi Arabia has witnessed sporadic suicide attacks in recent months.

[Photo: Worshippers at Imam Rida Mosque]