Ahmed Abdullah Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — A security officer and an armed rioter were killed in overnight shootouts in the Eastern Province city of Qatif, the Interior Ministry said Saturday. “At around 11 P.M. Friday, a security patrol came under heavy gunfire from four armed rioters on motorbikes prowling at an intersection on Ohud Street in Qatif,” said Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, security spokesman for the Interior Ministry. He said the shooting resulted in the death of Hussein Zabani, a first class private. Another policeman, Saad Al-Shammari, was hospitalized with serious injuries, he added. Several patrol units arrived at the scene and chased the gunmen. “Security forces hunted down the rioters who were on motorbikes,” Al-Turki said. “Four rioters were arrested after an exchange of fire. One of them suffered bullet injury and died on the way to hospital.” A report by Al-Qatif Central hospital identified the dead rioter as 18-year-old Hussein Al-Khalaf. Three people were killed last month during violent demonstrations after police arrested firebrand cleric Nimr Al-Nimr, who instigated the unrest in the Qatif governorate. In January, the Interior Ministry released a list of 23 wanted men who were responsible for attacks on security forces in Qatif at the behest of “a foreign power.” One of the fugitives, Muhammad Kazim Ja'far Al-Shakhouri, was arrested on July 28. Four others had surrendered to the police earlier. Last month, Prince Ahmed Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Interior, reiterated that maintaining security and stability is of prime importance for the government and nobody will be allowed to tamper with it. Referring to the security issues in the Eastern Province, Prince Ahmed warned that vandalism in any form won't be tolerated and will be dealt with sternly. King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, he said, has always stressed that maintaining peace and security was paramount. Accordingly, Prince Ahmed said, the government will not allow any individual or group to indulge in acts that go against the security fabric of the Kingdom. Prince Ahmed said that the security of the nation cannot be compromised. “Security issues are found everywhere but there is always a limit and nobody is allowed to cross those limits,” he said.
