One German killed in a fire shooting in Riyadh

One German was killed in an attack by bullets to the east of the Saudi Arabian capital in Riyadh yesterday.

A Saudi security source stressed that the authorities are investigating if the incident is a terrorist attack or a criminal action.

Western diplomatic sources said that the man was killed by the bullets as he was leaving one of the major trade center. Witnesses said that one car stopped and gunmen opened fire at him and hit him in his head and body before they had fled.

Unconfirmed reports expected the executors of the attack to be Saudi wanted chased by the Saudi security forces.

This incident comes two days after the security forces killed four wanted in a fire exchange in al-Qasim area to the north of Riyadh and announcing the confiscation of amounts of weapons and explosives.

The ministry of the Interior announced finding at the hide of the group, instruments to equip a booby trapped car and manufacturing of bombs and weapons, in a rest station in Khudeira of Breida in al-Qasim.

Several confrontations took place in recent months between the police and those who were described as extremist members. The Saudi authorities are still chasing 18 persons, whose names were stated on the list of 26 names issued in December 2003.