Shooting outside US consulate in Jeddah leaves two dead including Nepalese security guard

JEDDAH, June 29: The gunman and a Nepalese security guard were killed in the attack, the latest near the Jeddah consulate.

A shooting outside the United States Consulate in the port city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, has left two people dead — a Nepalese security guard and the gunman who initially opened fire.

Officials in the US and Saudi Arabia confirmed the incident on Wednesday as investigations continue into the attack.

“A person in a car stopped near the American consulate building in Jeddah Governorate and got out of it carrying a firearm in his hand,” a spokesperson for the Mecca Region police said.

“So security authorities took the initiative to deal with him as required and the exchange of fire resulted in his death.”

The Saudi Press Agency (SPA), a state news outlet, reported the death of the security guard, who was part of the consulate’s private security.

No US citizens were injured in the gunfire, the US State Department said afterwards.

But, it added, “the U.S. Embassy and Consulate remain in contact with Saudi authorities as they investigate the incident”.

(Al Jazeera)