The police said during the past 48 hours, brawls were reported in Najran, Madinah and the Eastern Province.

According to the reports, the security agencies in Najran were hunting for a 24-year-old Saudi who escaped after taking part in a fatal mass brawl involving seven young Saudis aged 19 to 24.

A 19-year-old boy lost his life during the fight, while another one was shot in the ankle and a third one was hit with a sharp weapon on the head.

The Madinah police contained a violent fight involving a group of young Saudis in Al-Harrah district that erupted after a car belonging to one of them was set ablaze.

According to eyewitnesses, the exchange of words turned into fist fighting that was stopped in time by the Civil Defense, who also dispersed onlookers. In Jubail, the police ended bloody fighting among eight Saudis in their 20s.

The police said one of the fighters was stabbed with a knife and rushed to hospital. They added that the fighting was caused over old differences between some of the young men.

A recent study conducted by King Abdul Aziz Center for National Dialogue said gang fighting among young men was mainly caused by unemployment and leisure time.

The study was conducted on 2,113 young men in various parts of the Kingdom.

The study, of which Arab News has a copy, said other reasons for the spread of violence among young men was caused by the deterioration of economic conditions and social disparities.

The study suggested a host of remedies, including employment, spreading of awareness, increasing cultural programs, and hiking the dose of religious enlightenment.

It said young men should be kept busy doing useful things.