The spokesman for Jeddah police identified the slain gunman as Khedran bin Muhammad Bakheet Al-Zahrani, and said he was acting on his own.

Al-Zahrani was shot dead after he opened fire at a checkpoint on Abdul Rahman Al-Malki Street in the Rawdah district of Jeddah in the early hours of Saturday.

“It was the return fire of the security men at the checkpoint that killed the gunman,” a security source told Arab News.

Al-Zahrani had approached Al-Amal Hospital in Jeddah for treatment for drug addiction about six years ago, the police spokesman said, adding that he was using amphetamines and hashish.

The man had developed mental problems and showed hostility toward others before approaching the hospital. He was then admitted to Al-Amal and given leave on Jan. 25, 2006, but he did not return to complete his treatment.

According to the security source, the man was making a bid to force his way to the prince’s home after 1 a.m. Al-Zahrani was carrying a handgun and started firing at the checkpoint. No security men or citizens present at the location were injured.

The incident took place on the second anniversary of an assassination attempt against Assistant Interior Minister for Security Affairs Prince Muhammad bin Naif in Jeddah.

Previous reports said a terror outfit called Al-Qaeda in the Land of the Two Holy Mosques had plans to assassinate Prince Naif and Prince Muhammad.