Policeman killed in Saudi Arabia's Qatif
Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry says unknown gunmen have shot dead a policeman in Qatif in the oil-rich Eastern Province.
The ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that a shooting erupted late on Tuesday, when police attempted to stop a suspicious car near the central hospital in Qatif.
The statement said one of the officers was fatally injured after someone in the car opened fire at police.
According to the ministry, police later managed to stop the suspects' vehicle but they fled "while shooting randomly" in a doctor's car they stole.
Molotov cocktails were reportedly found in the suspects' abandoned car, which had also been stolen.
Saudi Arabia has witnessed a spate of deadly attacks targeting security forces or the Shia minority over the past months. The local branches of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group have claimed responsibility for many of the assaults.
On March 7, another policeman was shot dead as he tried to leave a Qatif police station in his personal car.
The Shia-populated Eastern Province has been the scene of peaceful demonstrations since February 2011. Protesters have been demanding reforms, freedom of expression and the release of political prisoners as well as an end to economic and religious discrimination against the oil-producing region.
The protests have been met with a heavy-handed crackdown by the Saudi regime. Riyadh has ramped up security measures across the province.
Over the past years, Riyadh has also redefined its anti-terrorism laws so as to also affect activism.
On March 9, the Saudi Interior Ministry said police had shot dead a man whom it said was a "terrorism" suspect in Qatif.
On March 11, Saudi forces raided residential areas in Qatif’s village of al-Awamiyah, destroying buildings and killing a teenager.
War on Yemen part of US, UK scenario to reshape region: Houthi
Yemen warns will target Saudi Arabia if Riyadh colludes with US against Sana'a
Saudi Arabia executes 7 men in largest execution since 2022
UN agency chief for Palestinians urges probe into staff killings
200 days of Israeli war on Gaza and 200 headlines whitewashing genocide
VIDEO | 200 days of US-Israeli genocide
Iran’s security chief in Russia to underline Israel’s aggression
VIDEO | Smoke rises from Gaza as fighting continues
ICRC decries escalating Israeli raids across occupied West Bank
Israel still prevents food convoys from reaching north of Gaza: UNRWA
NYPD arrests multitude of pro-Palestine students at NYU campus
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
