Three Saudi nationals accused of terrorism killed in Qatif

Saudi officials have confirmed that three nationals who were “wanted terrorists” were killed last week in Qatif in the Eastern Province during clashes with security forces.

The kingdom’s Presidency of State Security named the three men as Muhammad Hassan Ahmad Al- Zayed, Mufeed Hamza Ali Al-Olwan and Khaleel Ibrahim Hassan Al-Muslim.

The men were killed on Wednesday evening while resisting arrest, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.

Three security men also faced slight injuries during the incident, although none of the residents and passers-by in the neighborhood were harmed, the report said.

A spokesperson said that the three men, who were wanted in cases linked to terror, were located in a house in the Al-Kuwaikeb neighbourhood in the centre of Qatif. They were traced following a monitoring and surveillance operation.

Once the security forces surrounded the house, the ‘terrorists’ refused to surrender and opened fire, which led to a shootout in which the men were killed, he added.

The region of Qatif, home to the kingdom’s Shia minority, has witnessed several clashes in the last few years.

In April, a Saudi soldier was killed during a raid against suspected militants in the region.

Read more: Saudi soldier killed in Qatif province

The kingdom also killed three suspected militants and executed four nationals in Qatif for terrorism offences in separate incidents in July last year.

Read more: Saudi security forces kill three suspected militants in Qatif province

Saudi executes four nationals for terrorist acts in restive Qatif