DAMMAM, 23 March 2003 — Three Saudis, one of them a plainclothes security officer, were injured as unidentified gunman fired at them outside Saudi American Bank on King Saud Street here yesterday.
The assailant escaped with SR500,000 one of the men was carrying in a bag. Police said the injured were rushed to hospital and are in stable condition.
Eyewitnesses said an unidentified gunman challenged a Saudi man who was about to enter the bank carrying a bag containing money. The gunman snatched the bag from the Saudi and fired at him. Another Saudi, who was later identified as a security officer, tried to restrain the attacker who shot at him as well. The security officer was hit on the thigh. The gunman escaped with the money.
Police later confirmed that the bag contained SR500,000 but refused to divulge the identities of the injured as the case was under investigation.
Immediately after the incident, police cordoned off the area and traffic was held up in downtown Dammam. King Saud Street is one of the busiest streets in Dammam. It is occupied mainly by banks, hardware stores and electronics shops.
