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BREAK
The attack occurred at a World War I commemoration ceremony attended by European diplomats.
Several people were injured Wednesday when an explosive device struck a ceremony marking the end of World War I at a cemetery in the Saudi city of Jeddah.
France’s Foreign Ministry said several countries had representatives at the commemoration that was attended by European diplomats.
“The annual ceremony commemorating the end of the First World War at the non-Muslim cemetery in Jeddah, attended by several consulates, including that of France, was the target of an IED [improvised explosive device] attack this morning, which injured several people, “said the ministry.
“France strongly condemns this cowardly and unjustifiable attack.”
The blast was confirmed by a Greek official who declined to be named.
“There was some kind of explosion in the non-Muslim cemetery in Jeddah. There are four minor injuries, including a Greek, ”said the official, without giving further details.
France has urged its citizens in the kingdom to be “on high alert” amid heightened tensions after an assailant beheaded a French high school teacher who displayed cartoons of the prophet Muhammad in class.
Extremely offensive
Wednesday’s blast came as French President Emmanuel Macron, the target of anger across much of the Muslim world for swearing to uphold Islam’s disparaging comments and images after a series of attacks, attended a World War I commemoration ceremony. in Paris.
Several countries are celebrating the 102nd anniversary of the armistice signed by Germany and the allied countries to end the 1914-18 war.
Macron has vigorously defended the right to publish cartoons that Muslims find extremely offensive, including cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad printed by the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.
French history teacher Samuel Paty showed the same cartoons to students in a class on freedom of expression, leading to his beheading on the outskirts of Paris on October 16 following an online campaign by parents angry at his choice of the lesson material.
Macron’s stance angered many Muslims, prompting angry protests in several countries and a campaign to boycott French products.
Last month, a Saudi citizen stabbed a guard at the French consulate in Jeddah on the same day that a man with a knife killed three people at a church in Nice, southern France.
Saudi Arabia, home to Islam’s holiest sites, has criticized the cartoons, but has “strongly” condemned last month’s attack in Nice.
On Tuesday, Macron organized a summit of European leaders to chart a joint approach to combat what he calls “Islamist radicalism” after four people were killed in a shooting in the heart of Vienna last week.
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