An armed man exchanged fire with Saudi security authorities near the US Consulate building in Jeddah leading to his death and the death of a Nepalese security guard, state news agency SPA reported on Wednesday.
“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.
A Nepalese worker in the consulate’s private security guards was injured and subsequently died, SPA reported.
Investigations are underway into the shootings.
No Americans were harmed when an armed man exchanged fire with Saudi security authorities near the US consulate building in Jeddah, leading to the deaths of the gunman and a security guard, the US State Department said.
“The US Embassy and Consulate remain in contact with Saudi authorities as they investigate the incident,” a department spokesperson said in a written statement.
US PRESIDENT Joe Biden and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, last July: Saudi Arabia is not able to give up the American defensive shield, and believes Israel has a role in securing this. (credit: MANDEL NGAN/REUTERS)Other attacks on the US consulate
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.
US-Saudi relations
The American Mission to Saudi Arabia began as a legation in Jeddah in 1942, according to the consulate website. However, full diplomatic relations didn’t commence until 1949.
As the Jerusalem Post previously reported, tensions have arisen between Saudi Arabia and the US. The US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s visit in January was not well covered by Saudi media.
Riyadh has also leveraged its growing relationships with Russia and China as the Biden administration has pushed back against some Saudi demands including lifting restrictions on arms sales and help with sensitive high-tech industries.
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