Three Saudi joyriders have been arrested for allegedly stopping an American and a Filipino expat at gunpoint in Riyadh and fleeing with their car, security sources said on Wednesday.

The perpetrators fabricated a traffic accident in order to get them to stop their vehicle. Police have launched a manhunt for the criminals on orders of Riyadh Gov. Prince Khaled bin Bandar and his deputy, Prince Turki bin Abdullah.

Maj. Gen. Saud Al-Hilal, director of the Riyadh police, formed a special team led by the director of the investigation and search team to track down the criminals.

“The carjackers were later spotted at the Shifa district, where they were involved in drifting stunts using the stolen vehicle,” the security source said. The gang of four then fled to the desert near Muzahmiah.

Feeling that they were about to get caught, the four preemptively opened fire at officers at a checkpoint and drove back at high speed, but were chased cautiously by security agents.

The gang members eventually surrendered near the Al-Mugbil palaces, but one of them ran away on foot, taking advantage of the darkness. The gang members were aged 16 to 25. Police have obtained the address of the man who fled the scene.