Saudi Shiites are frisked by members of security as they make their way to a hussainiya, a Shiite hall in Qatif, in this October 16, 2015 photo.

Eyewitnesses to the attack in Saihat on Friday recalled the chaos that ensued after the lone gunman opened fire on worshippers killing five and injuring 9 others.

“Everybody was inside the meeting hall around 7 in the afternoon; we heard the shooting and chaos prevailed as the hall was full of worshippers, both adults and children,” said one of the eyewitnesses.

A six-year-old child of one martyr said the shooting occurred as his father was holding his hand.

“I was soaked in my father’s blood as he was shot down,” the child said.

The security forces were able to shoot the terrorist dead. The attack caused much pain and grief among the families of the five martyrs.

Their relatives said that the tragedy was grave and that the hands of terrorists must be cut off in this land of peace and security.

They expressed appreciation for the extensive security deployment which helped in minimizing human losses.

The five martyrs were Buthina Ahmad Al-Abbad, Ayman Nasser Habib Al-Ajmi, Ali Hussein Al-Salim, Abdul Sattar Bu-Saleh and Abdullah Saleh Al-Jassem.

Grief and sadness were not limited to the families of martyrs. All segments of society expressed sympathy and condolences to the families of martyrs through the social media.

Prominent national figures said the security men had done a commendable job in the face of the bloody attack.

“I visited the family of the martyr, Abdul Sattar Bu-Saleh, and I found his father sitting silently, praying for the soul of his son.” said Dr. Sadeq Al-Jubran.

Mohammad Al-Meskeen, a local figure, said the attack clearly indicated the barbarity and bloodthirstiness of the terrorists. He said the assault was an attempt to destroy national unity and the terrorist was killed by security forces who demonstrated bravery.

Shaker Noah, an economist, said the terrorist attack has nothing to do with religion. “Terrorists do not believe in coexistence and national unity.”

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