Saudi suspect found dead after gunfight

Riyadh : A man wanted by Saudi authorities was found dead after a police raid followed by an exchange of gunfire in a Shia town, according to the Interior Ministry.

The dead man, Abdul-Rahim al-Faraj, and his brother Majid al-Faraj were wanted for allegedly shooting at security forces, some of whom were killed, the Ministry said.

They were also sought for other multifarious charges: attacking citizens, damaging public property, and for armed robbery.

Police came under fire on Wednesday night while searching the suspects’ home in the Eastern Province town of Awamiya, a Ministry statement said.

Officers returned fire during the incident, which coincided with iftar, when Muslims break their fast during the Holy Month of Ramadan. No police or bystanders were hurt during the gunfight, but a local clinic later notified security officers that it was in possession of the body of a man who died from a gunshot.

Authorities identified the corpse as Abdul-Rahim al-Faraj. Police seized firearms and ammunition from the suspect’s home and were continuing to hunt for Faraj’s brother Majid. Eastern Province is home to most of Saudi Arabia’s Shias. Awamiya has been the scene of repeated incidents since 2011. A resident in the Shia-dominated district of Qatif, which includes Awamiya, said armoured vehicles have been deployed at checkpoints. (AFP)