Gunman kills two Saudi guards and wounds three in pre-dawn attack on Jeddah palace

Two members of the Saudi Royal Guard were shot dead and three others were injured on Saturday by a gunman outside a royal palace in Jeddah.

An interior ministry spokesman said that the incident took place at 3.25am in front of the western gate of the Al Salam Palace, where the men were stationed.

The men “came under fire by a person who got out of a car, a Hyundai, which he was driving and which carried the licence plate HSK 6081”, he said.

The gunman was “immediately dealt with” and shot dead on the spot.

The spokesman said that the attacker, who was identified as 28-year-old Mansur Al Amiri, a Saudi national, was carrying a Kalashnikov rifle and three Molotov cocktails. The two guards killed were identified as Hammad bin Shallah Al Mutairi and Abdullah bin Faisal Al Subaie.

Those injured were Walid bin Ali Shami, Ahmed Saleh Al Qarni and Abdullah Hindi Subeii, all of whom were taken to hospital for treatment.

The Saudi authorities have launched an investigation to determine the gunman’s motive for the attack.

King Salman of Saudi Arabia – who was on an official visit to Russia during the attack – often holds meetings and hosts leaders at the palace.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Anwar Gargash, said yesterday that Saudi Arabia would win the war on terrorism.

“Saudi Arabia will overcome terrorism and regional challenges, and it will continue with confidence with its development plans to flourish,” he tweeted. “The UAE will stand by [Saudi Arabia] through thick and thin.”

Other Arab countries, including Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Egypt, condemned the terrorist attack, saying that they stood firmly by Saudi Arabia.

A Kuwaiti foreign affairs ministry spokesman said that his country supported Saudi Arabia’s efforts to combat terrorism and safeguard its safety and stability.

“There is a need to double the international community’s efforts to face terrorism and rid this world of its evil,” he said.

Bahrain said it condemned the attack and “all forms of terrorism and those who support and finance it”, according to a foreign ministry statement.

Meanwhile, Turkey said it condemned the attack in Jeddah. “We wish Allah’s mercy upon the Saudi security officers who lost their lives as a result of this heinous attack and a speedy recovery to the wounded,” the foreign ministry said.

“We convey our condolences to the brotherly government and the people of Saudi Arabia.”

Saudi Arabia will overcome terrorism and regional challenges … The UAE will stand by [it] through thick and thin ANWAR GARGASH Minister of State for Foreign Affairs