Dubai: State-linked Saudi news sites are reporting that a suicide bomber has carried out an attack near a US diplomatic site in the Red Sea city of Jiddah.
Okaz news website says the bomber died in the attack, and that no other deaths were immediately reported. The bomber was apparently headed in a car toward a mosque that is near the US consulate in Jiddah. Most of the consulate's staff have reportedly moved offices to a new location.
Sabq news website reported that two security guards were wounded in the attack, which took place early on Monday.
US Embassy officials in Saudi Arabia and Interior Ministry officials could not be immediately reached for comment.
A 2004 terror attack on the US consulate in Jiddah left nine people dead.
More recently, Saudi Arabia has been a target of Islamic State group attacks that have killed dozens of people. The extremist group views the Western-allied Saudi monarchy and government as heretics. Saudi Arabia is part of the US-led coalition fighting the IS group in Iraq and Syria.
In June, the Interior Ministry reported 26 terror attacks had taken place in the kingdom in the last two years. Local affiliates of the IS group have targeted minority Shiites and security officials.
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