Killer attributes fatal shooting to smoking

Manama: A Saudi national arrested in a mosque-storming operation for twin murders has reportedly said that he killed the first man for smoking and the second for being unfit to lead prayers.

The admissions were recorded by the police as they investigated the detainee, who allegedly suffers from mental problems, shortly after his arrest, Saudi Arabic daily Al Watan reported on Wednesday.

“He confessed that he killed the first man because he saw him smoke a cigarette, although smoking is haram,” a source told the daily. “He said that he killed the second man inside the mosque because he did not deserve to call to prayers or to lead worshippers in the mosque,” an unidentified source said.

Al Ghassala area in Madinah in western Saudi Arabia was rocked on Monday by news that a Saudi man, 32, fatally shot two men, a Pakistani and a Bangladeshi, as he walked to the mosque to offer the Asr (afternoon) prayers.

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