Afghan Taliban Condemns Attack at Saudi Holy Site

The Afghan Taliban on Tuesday condemned a deadly suicide bombing at Islam's second holiest site in the Saudi city of Medina, describing it as "an act of enmity and hatred."

Four people were killed in the bombing outside the Prophet's Mosque on Monday, the same day as an attack outside a minority Shiite mosque in eastern Saudi Arabia, and another near the US consulate in the western city of Jeddah.

"The Islamic Emirate (Taliban) – which has been shocked by this gruesome act – condemns this incident in the strongest of terms and considers it an act of enmity and hatred towards Islamic rituals," the militant group said in an emailed statement.

There were no claims of responsibility for the bombings, but the Islamic State group had urged its supporters to carry out attacks during Ramadan.

The Taliban, who were ousted from power by a US-led invasion in late 2001, have themselves been repeatedly blamed by the UN for deliberately targeting civilians in the war-torn country.

As many as 600 civilians were killed and 1,343 were injured in the first three months of 2016, according to a UN report in April, with the Taliban responsible for six out of every 10 casualties.

Monday's suicide bombing received wide condemnation from across the Muslim world, with Shiite power Iran calling for Muslim unity following the attacks in its Sunni-dominated regional rival.

Afghanistan's Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah also condemned the attacks in Saudi Arabia in a tweet on Tuesday, expressing his sympathies to the people and government of Saudi Arabia.