Two people, including a Nepali security guard, were killed when an armed man exchanged fire with Saudi Arabian security authorities near the US consulate building in Jeddah.

A Reuters report, quoting the US State Department, stated that the incident on Wednesday led to the deaths of the gunman and a security guard and no Americans were harmed in the incident.

The Saudi Press Agency reported that a Nepali worker in the consulate’s private security guards was injured during the incident and subsequently died.

“A person in a car stopped near the American Consulate building in Jeddah Governorate and got out of it carrying a firearm in his hand, so security authorities took the initiative to deal with him as required, and the exchange of fire resulted in his death,” a spokesperson for the Makkah Region police said.

As per the Reuters report, investigations are underway to determine the motive and circumstances behind the incident.

The US State Department spokesperson said that the US Embassy and Consulate are in contact with Saudi authorities as they investigate the incident.

The consulate has been targeted several times in recent years. In 2016, a suicide bomber was killed and two people were wounded in a blast near the compound. And in 2004, five people stormed the US consulate with bombs and guns, killing four Saudi security personnel outside and five local staff within. Three of the attackers were killed in the assault and two were captured.

The 2004 attack in Jeddah followed other deadly bombings and shootings against expatriate compounds, Westerners working in the kingdom and other targets that were part of an al Qaeda campaign aimed at ousting the ruling Al Saud family.

Published on: 29 June 2023 | The Kathmandu Post