Skip to main content

Two Saudi police shot dead in kingdom's east

Saudi ministry spokesman said the suspect or suspects had not immediately been identified
The pre-dawn attack happened near a farm in the Saihat area of Qatif (AFP)

Two Saudi policemen were shot dead on Wednesday when they came under fire in the kingdom's east, where most of the minority Shia community live, the interior ministry said.

The pre-dawn attack happened near a farm in the Saihat area of Qatif, on the Gulf coast.

A ministry spokesman said the suspect or suspects had not immediately been identified.

It is the latest incident in the area as police continue to hunt suspects on a list of 23 wanted people issued in 2011 after Shia unrest.

Last week, two Indian passers-by and a policeman were wounded when police came under fire from a farming area in Qatif.

Many suspects on the wanted list have already been detained or killed in shootouts.

New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch

Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters

Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.