Teary farewell to Qatif victims

JEDDAH: Thousands of Saudis attended the joint funeral for 21 people on Monday who died in Friday’s suicide bombing at a Qatif mosque.
The funeral started at 3 p.m. under heavy security and moved from the front of Al-Khamees’ historic market on King Faisal Road in Qatif to Al-Qadeeh village’s graveyard. After the burials, the families of the victims received mourners, many of whom traveled from neighboring Gulf states.
A large tent was erected at Al-Hadla Street for the mourners. Fifty volunteers took part in the event including 30 who washed the bodies.
The health department in the Eastern Province said that 53 of the injured were discharged from local hospitals, while 33 are still being treated. There are six people currently in intensive care at various hospitals.
The department said that support teams started assisting the families on Sunday. They include consultants, psychologists and psychiatrists who would help the family members of the deceased, and those who were present in the mosque.