Saudi Arabia says 2 militants, 2 others killed at checkpoint

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Saudi Arabia says two militants have been killed, along with a security official and a bystander, in a shootout at a police checkpoint in one of the kingdom’s central provinces.

The Interior Ministry said in a statement that the shooting happened on Sunday afternoon in al-Qassim. It’s located some 400 kilometres, or about 250 miles, northwest of the capital of Riyadh.

The ministry says the militants opened fire on the checkpoint, killing a police sergeant and a Bangladeshi national. The ministry said police returned fire, killing two militants and wounding a third, who was later hospitalized.

A motive for the shooting wasn’t immediately known and no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Saudi Arabia has faced attacks from militants from al-Qaida and an Islamic State affiliate.