(MENAFN - Arab News) Security forces foiled an attack on a police station in Awamiya in the Eastern Province city of Qatif, killing a masked gunman on Friday night.
Four policemen were injured in a separate assault on their patrol.
Eastern Province Gov. Prince Muhammad bin Fahd visited the injured policemen at King Fahd Medical Complex in Dammam and Al-Oyoun Specialist Hospital in Dhahran on Saturday. Deputy Gov. Prince Jalawi bin Abdul Aziz bin Musaed and Assistant Interior Minister for Security Affairs Prince Muhammad bin Naif also accompanied him.
Four masked gunmen on motorbikes entered Al-Awamiya police station at 9:30 p.m. Friday and one of them hurled a Molotov cocktail at the station while his mates opened fire, spokesman of the Interior Ministry Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki said. "The guards dealt with them, killing one while the rest fled."
Al-Turki said two security force patrols came under fire from masked gunmen on motorbikes at 1 a.m. on Saturday in the town of Saihat, wounding four security officers.
He added: "The security forces will not tolerate rioters, especially those who are armed, and will hold responsible anyone who helps them hide or gives them shelter."
He asked community leaders to intervene and persuade such gangs to stop their activities.
According to sources, the gunmen rode through the narrow streets of the area and fired in the air several times before shooting at security patrols in Saihat.
The condition of the injured security men is reportedly stable.
While visiting them, Prince Muhammad conveyed to them the greetings and prayers of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah; Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense; and Interior Minister Prince Ahmad.
Prince Muhammad expressed his gratitude over the self-restraint and wisdom they had shown as well as their courage in carrying out their duties. The policemen thanked the Saudi leaders for their concern as well as providing the best health care possible for them.
Last Sunday, security forces arrested Nimr Baqer Al-Nimr, one of the instigators of Awamiya riots. Al-Turki said: "The arrest took place at 4 p.m. when Al-Nimr and those with him tried to resist security forces and opened fire at police."
Al-Nimr's car also hit a police patrol vehicle as he tried to flee the scene, the Saudi Press Agency quoted Al-Turki as saying.
