A gunman exchanged fire with Saudi security authorities near the US consulate building in Jeddah, killing him and a Nepali security guard, the state news agency reported on Wednesday SPA.
“A person in a car stopped near the US consulate building in Jeddah governorate and got out of it with a firearm in his hand, so the security authorities took the initiative to treat him properly, and the exchange of fire resulted in his death.” , said a spokesman for the Makkah region police.
A Nepalese worker of the consulate’s private security guards was injured and later died, SPA reported.
The shootings are under investigation.
No Americans were injured when a gunman exchanged fire with Saudi security authorities near the US consulate building in Jeddah, killing the gunman and a security guard. security, the US State Department said.
“The US embassy and consulate remain in contact with Saudi authorities as they investigate the incident,” a department spokesman said in a written statement.
US President Joe Biden and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, last July: Saudi Arabia cannot give up the US defensive shield and believes Israel has a role to play in securing it. (credit: MANDEL NGAN/REUTERS)
Other US Consulate Attacks
The consulate has been attacked several times in recent years. In 2016, a suicide bomber was killed and two people were injured in an explosion 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 personnel inside. Three of the attackers died in the assault and two were captured.
The 2004 Jeddah attack followed other attacks and deadly shootings targeting expatriate compounds, Westerners working in the kingdom and other targets as part of an Al Qaeda campaign to topple the ruling Al Saud family .
US-Saudi Arabia relations
The American mission to Saudi Arabia began as a legation in Jeddah in 1942, according to the consulate’s website. However, full diplomatic relations did not begin until 1949.
As previously reported by the Jerusalem Post, tensions have arisen between Saudi Arabia and the US. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s visit in January was not well covered by the Saudi media.
Riyadh has also leveraged its growing ties with Russia and China, as the Biden administration has rejected some Saudi demands, including lifting restrictions on arms sales and aid with sensitive industries. high technology
