Saudi Arabia announced on Monday that it thwarted a terrorist attack, plotted by four fugitives in the eastern al-Qatif region.
A spokesman for the state security presidency said that security forces carried out a preemptive operation against the fugitives on Sunday. The operation was carried out in coordination with the security forces in the Eastern Region.
It was carried out as the fugitives sought to get inside a vehicle and travel towards the Abu Hadriyah road to stage their attack.
A shootout ensued as the suspects opened fire at the security forces when they moved in to arrest them.
The suspects’ vehicle was damaged in the shootout, forcing them to head to a nearby gas station where they tossed a hand grenade that caused a small fire at the station.
The shootout left two suspects dead. They have been identified as Saudi nationals Majed Ali Abdulrahim al-Faraj and Mahmoud Ahmed Ali al-Zareh. The two other suspects were arrested and their identities have not been disclosed.
A Bahraini woman was wounded in the incident. She was at the station with her family. A Pakistani driver of a fuel tanker and two members of the security forces were also injured.
The suspects all have criminal records related to terrorist cases in al-Qatif. They are accused of opening fire at civilians and security forces and attacking public facilities, security and economic establishments. They are also accused of theft, armed robbery, kidnapping, rape and drug smuggling.
The security forces seized a number of weapons and explosives in the suspects’ vehicle, as well as a fake Bahraini identification card.
