A citizen was abducted and beaten in the Eastern Province in the early hours of Friday morning before being released, police said.

The man, who is in his thirties, was kidnapped by armed assailants as he was driving through the town of Awamiya in Qatif. The victim was taken to a farm, beaten and then photographed before being allowed go. He later told police his vehicle was also shot at. Police are treating the incident as a terrorist attack and have opened an investigation.