A Shiite mosque in eastern Saudi Arabia was hit by an explosion during Friday prayers, where numbers of people were killed and wounded.

Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry on Friday in Riyadh confirmed the explosion in the east of the country.

He said the attack took place at a Shiite mosque during prayers, but there was no official information on casualties.

The residents also reported that at least several deaths were recorded in the attack in the mostly Shiite Qatif region.

Some residents said the attack in the Shiite region of Qatif was a suicide bombing.

Residents described emergency crews working at the site of the attack, which took place on the birthday of Husayn ibn Ali, a figure from the 7th century who is revered by Shiites.

There have long been tensions between the Shiite minority in Saudi Arabia and the government, including harsh crackdowns against residents of the oil-rich region after residents protested against discrimination.

Sectarian tensions are also being fuelled by the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen against the Shiite Houthi rebels.

The Saudi monarchy adheres to the Wahhabi doctrine, a strict form of Sunni Islam.

In November, seven Shiites were killed in a shooting attack, which Saudi security forces blamed on the Islamic State Sunni extremist group, while four alleged masterminds were arrested.