Saudi policeman dies in shoot-out as 'terror' plot foiled

RIYADH — A Saudi policeman was killed in a shoot-out Sunday with suspects planning a "terrorist" attack, the interior ministry said, in the latest such incident this week in the kingdom's west.

The two gunmen were trying to "infiltrate" a police station parking area in the western Taif province to carry out a "terrorist act", the ministry said in a statement on the official SPA news agency.

As they realised that they were being monitored, the men opened machinegun fire at police and fled in a waiting vehicle.

Chased by security forces, they abandoned the vehicle and fled into a residential area, the statement said. An exchange of fire left policeman Saeed Al Harithi dead, it said. 

Security forces surrounded the area and were searching for the suspects, it said, adding that a suicide vest and nine improvised explosives were found.

The past week has seen a rise in such incidents in the kingdom, where the Daesh terror group has previously claimed bombings and other attacks targeting security forces. 

On Thursday, a Saudi police officer was shot dead after four suspected militants died during a raid in the area between Taif and the region of Mecca, home to Islam's holiest sites.