DAMMAM — The families of those who died in a terrorist attack on a Dammam mosque have been unable to claim the victims' bodies due to the difficulty in identifying their remains.
Saudi security authorities are continuing their investigations into Friday's bombing, which killed four people and injured many others.
According to press reports on Sunday, the bodies were mutilated beyond recognition but forensics teams were still working on identifying them.
Congregates were unanimous that the explosions at a Qatif mosque last week and this recent attack outside Al-Anoud Mosque would strengthen national unity among the Saudi people regardless of religious sects.
Speaking to Al-Hayat newspaper, a researcher in security issues did not dismiss the possibility of further attacks happening in the future. “It is evident that Daesh (the so-called IS) has decided to shift its experience of causing sectarian rifts from Iraq to Saudi Arabia," he said.
Forensics officers were conducting DNA tests on the remains, including those of the attacker, to identify them before handing over the victims' bodies to their respective families.
Meanwhile, a special committee formed by residents started making preparations to establish a site near the mosque to receive condolences.
They have chosen the house of mosque imam Ali Al-Nasser as a temporary location until a permanent place is identified.
Jassim Al-Mushrif, the committee's chairman, confirmed the families have not yet received the remains of the martyrs.
He said: “The maximum length of some of the remains was not more than 10 centimeters.
“This makes it difficult for forensics to identify them.” Meanwhile shops in Al-Khobar asked their customers to be vigilant for further such attacks.
In a tweet published on Friday, Daesh wrote: “From Ahsa to Qaif and Dammam; it is now time for Al-Khobar.”
A number of Saudi tweeters warned that Jubail was also on Daesh's hit list. The American Embassy warned its citizens not to venture out during the weekends.
A security source said coordination was being made with the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance to provide maximum protection to the mosques, especially during the holy month of Ramadan. He said protection measures included preventing women from praying at the mosques during the fasting month.
“The women's praying slots will be closed down completely,” he added. Meanwhile, Kawthar Al-Arbash, the mother of the Dammam attack victim Mohammed Al-Issa and the aunt of two others, Abdul Jaleel and Mohammed Al-Arbash, said the Saudis' “national unity and social fabric were being targeted”.
Al-Arbash, a journalist at Al-Jazirah newspaper, wrote on her Twitter account: “My son Muhammad is a free man now. He opted to be a shield for the congregates. He sacrificed himself to save the others.”
