2 'fugitives' killed in Saudi as car explodes

Smoke could be seen rising above an area that police had blocked off in Qatif

At least two people were killed when a car exploded in Saudi Arabia’s eastern city of Qatif today, Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya television reported.

It said initial reports indicated the victims were “fugitives”, a term that suggested people being sought by the kingdom’s security services.

Smoke could be seen rising in Qatif, Saudi Arabia, after a car exploded on 1 June 2017. [ Mhamad Kleit/Twitter]

The channel had earlier said the blast was caused by a car bomb. Its website posted images of thick black smoke rising from a street.

Social media users published pictures of smoke which could be seen rising above an area that police had blocked off. Saudi authorities were not immediately available for comment.

Photos sent over social media showed a body apparently completely burned being pulled from the wreckage of a car. The authenticity of the photos could not immediately be verified.

Qatif, home to a large Shia Muslim population, has been a flashpoint between the Sunni Muslim government and Shias complaining of discrimination.

The burnt remains of a car in Qatif on 1 June 2017 [Emad_AlMudaifer/Twitter]

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