Saudi Arabia: Car bomb explodes in Qatif, casualties feared

A car bomb exploded in Qatif city in eastern on Thursday, Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya television reported, without giving any details on casualties.

A resident contacted by telephone said he heard a blast and saw smoke rising above an area that police had blocked off. Saudi authorities were not immediately available for comment. Photos sent over social media showed a body apparently completely burned being pulled from the wreckage of a car. The authenticity of the photos could not immediately be verified. Qatif, home to a large Shi’ite Muslim population, has been a flashpoint between the Sunni Muslim government and Shi’ites complaining of discrimination.