Man wanted for ‘terrorist crimes’ killed in eastern Saudi Arabia

DUBAI: Saudi security forces shot and killed a man suspected of involvement in “terrorist crimes” in an exchange of fire in the eastern part of the kingdom, state news agency SPA reported late on Tuesday.

The agency, citing the recently formed Presidency of State Security, identified the man as Abdullah Mirza Ali al-Qallaf and said he was killed during a security operation on Monday night at a farm between the restive Shi’ite Muslim communities of Awamiya and Qudaih.

“He was in a silver Hyundai Sonata with fake licence plates and when security forces tried to stop him, he refused to comply and opened fire towards security men who responded in kind to neutralise his danger, and as result he was killed,” SPA said.

It said no security forces personnel were hurt.

Security forces found a Kalashnikov rifle, a pistol, ammunition, a military uniform and masks inside the car, the agency said.

Mirat al-Jazeera, an online newspaper that often reflects Shi’ite views, said Qallaf’s name had not appeared on lists of wanted people issued by Saudi authorities since protests began in eastern Saudi Arabia, where many members of the Shi’ite minority live.

Awamiya has long been a flashpoint between the Sunniled government and Shi’ites complaining of discrimination, a charge Saudi Arabia denies. Tension has increased since Nimr al-Nimr, a prominent Shi’ite cleric convicted of inciting violence, was executed in 2016. — Reuters