Saudi security authorities announced on Saturday the death of two security officers on duty and the injury of three others during a shootout at the outer western gate of Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah.
The perpetrator, Saudi national Mansour al-Amiri, 28, was killed after he drove up to the gates and shot at security.
Major General Mansour al-Turki, security spokesman at the Saudi Interior Ministry, said that the incident took place at about 03:25 AM (00:25 GMT).
A guard post outside at the western gate of Al-Salam Palace came under fire by a person who stepped out of a Honda vehicle, and was immediately dealt with by the Royal Guard resulting in the offender’s immediate death, sated Turki.
He explained that the “cowardly action resulted in the martyrdom of Sergeant Hammad Bin Shallah Al-Mutairi and Private First Class Abdullah Bin Faisal Al-Sibei.”
Meanwhile, the injured royal guard personnel included Corporal Waleed Bin Ali Shaami, Private First Class Ahmed Saleh Al-Qarni and Private First Class Abdullah Hindi Al-Sibei.
Al-Amri had in his possession three Molotov cocktails in addition to a Kalashnikov machinegun.
Turki explained that security authorities are still conducting their investigations, the results of which will be announced later.
The offender has no recorded precedents and no intelligence suggested his involvement with any extremist or terrorist groups, indicating that he may be a “lone wolf.”
The US consulate in Jeddah, west of Saudi Arabia, called on US citizens to exercise caution in the vicinity of the Al-Salam palace.
"Several news outlets are reporting an attack against Al-Salam Palace Saturday in Jeddah," the consulate said on its website.
"Due to the possibility of ongoing police activity, American citizens are advised to exercise caution when traveling through the area."
