Posted on 11/11/2020 5:12:43 AM PST by xomething
FOUR people have been injured after a grenade was reportedly hurled at a Remembrance Day ceremony for Brit and French expats in Saudi Arabia.
France's foreign ministry confirmed a number of people were wounded in the blast at a non-Muslim cemetery in the Saudi city of Jeddah.
George Malbrunot, who works for French newspaper Le Figaro, reported a "grenade was thrown" at the ceremony taking place on Armistice Day.
Unverified pictures allegedly from the scene show splatters of blood on the ground and at least one person receiving medical care.
The veteran reporter, who was once held hostage in Iraq, reports the weapon was hurled over the wall during the service.
He said a diplomatic source had described it as an "isolated act" and the victims are reported to include a Greek national and a Saudi guard.
The attack occurred as several diplomatic delegations from the European Union and other countries were present at a Remembrance Day event organized by the French embassy.
The Sun Online has contacted the UK Foreign Office.
French senator Damien Regnard tweeted: "All my support to our compatriots in Saudi Arabia and in Jeddah."
It comes after a security guard was stabbed at the French consulate also in Jeddah just 12 days ago.
France has become the focus in a row over cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed published by Charlie Hebdo.
"There was some sort of a blast at the non-Muslim cemetery in Jeddah. There are four slightly injured," a Greek official told Reuters.
In a statement, the French foreign ministry told AFP: "The annual ceremony commemorating the end of World War I at the non-Muslim cemetery in Jeddah, involving several consulates general including the French consulate, was the target of an explosive device attack this morning, which left several injured.
"France strongly condemns this cowardly attack that nothing can justify."
It added: "The embassies that were involved in the commemoration ceremony condemn this cowardly attack, which is completely unjustified. They call on the Saudi authorities to shed as much light as they can on this attack, and to identify and hunt down the perpetrators."
France has been targeted by several attacks in recent months as it refused to condemn the Mohammed cartoons as it defends it values on free speech.
The US Consulate in Saudi Arabia has reportedly issued a warning following the reports of the attempted attack.
It reads: "The US Consulate-General in Jeddah is following an explosion that occured at the non-Muslim cemetery in central Jeddah.
"American citizens are advised to avoid the nearby area and exercise caution in public places."
Prophet Mohammed cartoons have been displayed in France in solidarity after the beheading of Charles Paty, a teacher who used the images to educate his class on free speech.
French president Emmanuel Macron has said he would redouble efforts to stop conservative Islamic beliefs subverting his nation's values.
Two weeks ago after an ISIS-supporter beheaded a woman and killed two others in a bloody rampage in a church in Nice.
Reports of the attack on the ceremony come as the world marks Remembrance Day - also known as Armistice Day.
Some people doing something?
They’re the religion of peace. (Do I really need a /sarc tag?)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.