Saudi security say 2 Italians injured in apparent attack

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry says two Italians were wounded in the coastal city of Jiddah earlier this month in what appears to have been a premeditated attack targeting their cars.

Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki told The Associated Press security forces are pursuing the June 7 incident as a criminal act that appears to be centred around a personal dispute.

Al-Turki says preliminary investigations show an explosive device was placed under the gas pedals of two cars, causing the vehicles to catch fire and injuring the drivers, but not the other Italian passengers.

Italian authorities are co-operating in the ongoing investigation.

The U.S. Consulate in Jiddah recently issued a security alert saying it was aware of two car bombings that resulted in several injuries and no deaths.