RIYADH, 25 January 2003 — A Kuwaiti bystander was killed and three others, including two police officers, were wounded when unidentified gunmen opened fire on security officers who raided a furnished residential apartment in Al-Maseef district here on Thursday night.
An official source at the Interior Ministry identified the Kuwaiti as Abdullah Rashed Al-Zaabi and said that he was shot outside his flat during the raid. “He died on the spot,” the official told the Saudi Press Agency.
The source said police were hunting for the gunmen who fled the scene after shooting at the officers and onlookers. “Police have intensified their search for the gunmen,” he added.
The shooting occurred as investigation department officers came looking for some wanted persons at Al-Roshan residential complex in the city.
“The team of officers found a discrepancy in the names of residents registered by the apartment’s authorities. This prompted them to check the identity of the residents,” the official said.
He said the officers were caught off guard when the residents opened fire. One officer sustained injuries to his leg while the other was hit by a bullet in the foot.
“This handicapped the officers and helped the gunmen to flee,” the official said. The ministry identified the injured Saudi onlooker as Ibrahim Mohammed Al-Qadeeri.
