JEDDAH: The police in Al-Awamiya village, Qatif Province, have arrested a man suspected of killing a young Saudi in June.

The man was injured during his arrest after exchanging fire with police officers, said Col. Ziyad bin Abdulwahab Al-Ruqaiti, spokesman of the Eastern Province Police.

On June 17, the man allegedly opened fire at a car with four passengers passing through Al-Awamiya village, which resulted in the death of citizen Dhaifalla Salih Al-Qurashi, Al-Ruqaiti said.

Al-Qurashi and his three companions had been traveling from Taif through the Eastern Province so that they could go to Bahrain. However, when the Saudi authorities denied them entry into Bahrain, they turned back toward Taif but lost their way and found themselves in Al-Awamiya village.

When they entered the village, they were approached by men in a car and on a motorcycle. In response to questions about the purpose of their visit, they said they had entered the area by mistake. It was at this point that they were fired upon with a machine gun, Al-Ruqaiti said.

The driver of the car had managed to get away from the attackers but Al-Qurashi was shot in the head and died instantly. The suspect is thought to be a member of a terrorist group operating in Al-Awamiya.