Kuwait court awards death to seven in mosque bombing

Seven persons were awarded death on Tuesday for the Islamic State-claimed bombing of a Kuwait mosque in June that left 27 people dead, media reported.

Eight other suspects were given prison sentences ranging from two to 15 years by a Kuwaiti criminal court, the Kuwaiti news agency KUNA reported. Fourteen other defendants were acquitted.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the June 26 bombing, when a Saudi suicide bomber blew himself up inside the Imam al-Sadeq mosque here.

Hundreds of Shia Muslims were performing Friday prayers when the bombing took place.

Kuwait cracked down on IS after the bombing, the country's worst militant attack. Officials said the bombing was aimed at stoking strife between Sunnis and Shias in the majority Sunni state, where the two sects have usually coexisted in peace.

The 29 people indicted on terrorism charges in relation to the attack included Kuwaitis, Saudis, Pakistanis and stateless residents.