Spokesman of the Interior Ministry Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki identified the attacker as Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman Al-Sayel. The man was also involved in a fatal attack on a police office in Qassim a month ago.

Speaking to Arab News on condition of anonymity, the sources said Al-Sayel was shouting slogans usually used by terrorists while he was firing at the guards. The attacker was later shot dead.

Col. Abdul Jaleel Shari Al-Otaibi, who was killed in the attack, was laid to rest in Riyadh after Asr prayer Wednesday, while fellow victim Sgt. Barrak bin Ali Al-Harithy was buried at the same time in his home town of Sharourah in the south of the Kingdom.

Prince Muhammad bin Naif, assistant interior minister for security affairs, led the funeral prayers for Al-Otaibi. Senior officials of the ministry, Border Guard commander Maj. Gen. Zameem Al-Sawwat, Al-Otaibi's family and other citizens attended the prayer.

Prince Muhammad conveyed to the family and sons of Al-Otaibi his personal condolences and those of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, and Prince Naif, second deputy premier and minister of interior.

Prince Muhammad had ordered that a special plane fly the body of Al-Otaibi to Riyadh where his family lives. The body arrived Wednesday morning and was received by Al-Sawwat and a number of officials.

The sources said the assailant was wearing a bulletproof vest and was using night vision goggles. They said the shootings followed the detection by Mujahideen patrols of the footprints of a person heading toward the border with Yemen. They informed the border guards about it. When the border guards arrived where the man was, he opened fire at them.

Al-Otaibi was shot in the hip but he continued chasing the criminal. He turned down a suggestion from his colleagues to go to Sharourah general hospital for treatment, telling them that the bullet he received had only caused a flesh wound.

The chase continued and Al-Sayel took refuge in the electricity room of the border post and continued shooting. He fatally shot Al-Otaibi in the chest and also shot Al-Barrak, who died on his way to hospital.

Sgt. Aboud bin Faleh Al-Aklabi sustained light injuries and was taken to Sharourah where his condition is improving.

The sources said the border guards were able to kill the intruder in an operation that lasted for more than five hours. They said he was carrying arms and ammunition and pliers to cut barbed wires.

Border guards spokesman Lt. Col. Salim bin Saleh Al-Sulami said the attacker was very hostile and full of hate. He said the man parked his Nissan jeep about 10 km from the Al-Wadeeah border post and started walking on foot to avoid being detected by thermal cameras spread along the borders. He said the cameras spotted him and immediately the nearest patrol team was directed to deal with the situation.

The spokesman said the two victims were promoted posthumously, their debts settled and were given a reward of SR1 million in addition to a medal of honor each.

Al-Otaibi has a son studying in Britain and another in the US. He has a family of seven including his mother, three sons and three daughters. Al-Barrak has two sons and three daughters.

The spokesman said Al-Sayel was arrested eight years ago for his association with Al-Qaeda terrorist group, for trying to set up a military training camp, for traveling to violence-hit countries and supplying arms to militants. He said Al-Sayel was released after completing the jail term and taking part in the counseling program. His relatives guaranteed that they would monitor his activities after his release on bail.

The ministry emphasized the social responsibility toward such Al-Qaeda militants, adding that the society should follow those individuals to make sure they do not pose any threat to the public. “They should also inform police about any suspicious moves from such individuals,” the spokesman said.