Thursday saw Saudi authorities launch an investigation into a distressing incident that unfolded outside the US consulate in Jeddah, the bustling gateway city that serves as the epicenter of the grand Hajj pilgrimage currently underway in the city of Mecca.
The incident resulted in the death of both an assailant and a security guard, as they engaged in a harrowing exchange of gunfire.
Officials, grappling with the aftermath of the event, revealed that the exchange of fire that occurred on Wednesday evening ultimately claimed the lives of both the gunman and a Nepalese security guard.
Despite the diligent efforts of the authorities, no discernible motive for this shocking incident has been identified thus far.
According to a police spokesman cited by the official Saudi Press Agency, ‘At 6:45 pm (1545 GMT), a man stopped in a car in front of the consulate building and got out with a weapon in his hand,’
‘Security forces reacted… resulting in an exchange of fire that killed the assailant,’ The report further mentioned that the Nepalese guard, unfortunately, succumbed to his injuries.
The shooting coincided with the final day of the hajj at nearby Mecca, where over 1.6 million foreign pilgrims streamed through coastal Jeddah en route to the rituals.
‘Security investigations are still underway to ascertain the circumstances of the incident,‘ the police spokesman assured.
Read also: Iran Top Diplomat Makes Case For Restoration Of Saudi Ties
The nationality of the gunman remains undisclosed, while US officials have reassured that no Americans were harmed in the incident and have confirmed the successful security measures taken to safeguard the consulate.
A statement released by the State Department in Washington, reads: ‘We offer our sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased local guards member.’
‘The consulate was appropriately locked down and no Americans were harmed in the attack,’ it noted.
The statement further added that the United States is actively coordinating with the kingdom as it initiates its investigation process.
History bears witness to the report that the US consulate, situated in the thriving Red Sea City, has been a recurrent target for acts of aggression.
Among the chilling incidents that have marred its existence, one echoes solemnity—the heart-wrenching attack that happened on July 4, 2016.
A suicide bomber wreaked havoc, as several lives were claimed by the disaster.
During the unfortunate events of December 2004, the consulate faced a violent intrusion by individuals believed to be Islamist extremists. This attack resulted in the loss of five non-American staff members and contractors, alongside the lives of four armed assailants.
A group affiliated with Al-Qaeda’s Saudi branch orchestrated the attack, making it the first strike on a diplomatic mission in Saudi Arabia amidst a wave of bombings and shootings across the country.
Jeddah has witnessed a surge in US diplomatic engagements as of late, as the United States and Saudi Arabia collaboratively strive to broker peace between rival generals in Sudan.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent visit to the city involved a meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, marking the city’s role in these mediation efforts.
