Manama: A Saudi policeman was killed in the Qatif area of Saudi Arabia’s eastern province on Thursday, taking the number of security men killed in the area to five.
Abdullah Turki Al Turki was killed as terrorists targeted his vehicle when he was patrolling the area.
His death comes two days after Adel Al Utaibi was killed and three others injured when their patrol was attacked by terrorists using explosives.
Saudi authorities said the attackers, backed by Iran, were attempting to undermine the kingdom’s security and unity, and to incite strife.
In earlier attacks in the area, policemen Waleed Al Shibani, Abdul Aziz Al Turki, and Tariq Al Allaqi were killed when terrorists launched rocket-propelled grenades and used explosives to attack them.
In an attack in May, assailants fired at workers demolishing abandoned houses, and pedestrians, in Al Masoura district, killing a two-year-old Saudi baby and a Pakistani expatriate, and injuring 10 others, including six Saudis. Heavy machinery working on the project was also targeted by the attackers who hurled explosives in their bid to hamper the work.
The Saudi interior ministry said terrorists have been using old houses in Al Masoura district as hideouts and dens for their criminal activities that include murders, kidnappings, armed robberies, and trafficking in drugs, alcohol sale and weapons.
The ministry insisted that the development project would go ahead as planned and that security forces would not allow acts of terror to undermine peace.
Al Masoura, located in the northeast of Al Awamiya, is one of the town’s oldest areas, inhabited by 1,500 people. However, some of its buildings are more than 100 years old.
The development project entails the demolition of 488 residential units and the construction of shopping centres, restaurants, residential towers and a cultural centre.
