Islamic State militants have claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing at a mosque mainly used by Saudi's elite counter-terrorism force in Abha, in the southwest of the country.

A statement circulating on Twitter claimed that the group had attacked a "military camp" in the region, without specifying a mosque.

The blast killed at least 15 people; 12 were members of the security forces and the remaining three were mosque workers, according to the Interior Ministry.

Earlier reports on Saudi television had put the death toll at 17.

Media reports said the explosion took place while worshippers were praying at the mosque in Abha, the capital of the southern province of Aseer, near the border with Yemen.

The attack is the latest in a series of bombings in Saudi Arabia, many of them targeting the Shiite minority.
Map of Saudi Arabia

In May, the Sunni extremist group "Islamic State" claimed two attacks on Shiite mosques in Saudi Arabia in which altogether 25 people died.

The kingdom recently launched a crackdown on the group that has seen hundreds of alleged sympathizers detained.

mm/jil (Reuters, dpa, AFP)