A bus belonging to the Saudi company Aramco was subjected to a terrorist attack carried out by four attackers yesterday evening. The bus was burned down but the passengers were able to exit it without being injured.

The media spokesperson for the Eastern Province police Colonel Ziad Araqiti explained that the private bus that transports employees and workers of the company to towns and districts in the Al-Qatif province was attacked at 4.415pm local time by four gunmen. Colonel Araqiti added that the gunmen stopped the bus at gunpoint as it drove through a residential district that neighbours the town of Al-Qudaih and then threw explosives at it which caused a fire. Security forces immediately intervened and were able to control the fire. Specialists and the police have started to investigate these attacks.

Police of the Eastern Province announced on Monday the death of a citizen and the injury of an 8 year old child during a heavy exchange of fire instigated by gunmen in the town of Awwamiyya when they opened fire on security forces at the entrance of the town.

A number of gunmen stole a bulldozer and used it to destroy a street in order to impede the entry of security forces to the town. They also kidnapped a citizen, led him to a farm, seized his car and mobile and then proceeded to video him. After he was dropped off on a road and freed, he informed the authorities who began to investigate the incident.

The Governor of the Eastern Province Prince Saud bin Nayef yesterday stressed during his weekly council session that Saudi Arabia will strike anyone who carries out a terrorist attack against a people or property with an iron fist. He added that everyone “must know that your country will not ever hesitate, will not be blamed and will strike with an iron fist anyone who harms a person, life or property on this blessed land”.