| More on this piece from yesterday... |
Saudi security forces captured two wanted militants, injured one and killed another man who was with them, early yesterday morning in a gunbattle in a residential district of Jeddah. A woman passerby was caught in the cross-fire and was also killed in the shootout. According to Brig. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, a spokesman for the Ministry of the Interior, "a man wanted for security-related matters was captured after being wounded...Two of his companions were arrested. A man who was accompanying the wanted militant was killed in the shootout." The security forces had received information that a group of wanted men was in an apartment in Al-Rabwah District. At six o'clock in the morning, Saudi forces surrounded the two-story building, closed off streets and nearby schools. According to eyewitnesses, the security forces ordered the men in the apartment to surrender. The men refused and the gunbattle began which, again according to witnesses, continued for half an hour. The battle ended with the death of Saad Al-Youbi, the injury of Ibrahim Al-Youbi and the surrender of two of their companions. Saad Al-Youbi, who is said to be a member of the security forces, was at home in his apartment when the other men came to him asking for shelter from the police.
As a result of the gunbattle, five policemen were wounded and taken to Erfan Hospital. Two of them were said to be in critical condition. In addition, twelve other people — policemen and bystanders — were injured and taken to King Fahd Hospital. The policemen were taken to Erfan Hospital by Saleh Al-Zahrani, a local resident, who transported the five injured policemen in his own vehicle. Among the 12 injured people taken to hospital were Yousef Al-Fazi and his four-year-old son. As Al-Fazi and his family were attempting to leave the apartment building, a bullet killed his wife though he and his son escaped with minor injuries.