Four suspected militants were killed in a gunfight with Saudi security forces north of the capital Riyadh on Thursday, a security source said.
Police surrounded a house in a district north of Riyadh and exchanged fire with several wanted gunmen inside, killing four, the source told Reuters.
Saudi Interior Ministry spokesman Gen. Mansour al-Turki confirmed a security operation was taking place in the area.
“The police are trying to apprehend one or more individuals who are putting up some resistance,” he said, but did not give further details.
Authorities have killed or captured all but three men on a list of 26 most wanted suspects published in 2003. In June, officials listed another 36 wanted men they are hunting. It was not clear if the men shot on Thursday were on the lists.
Earlier this month, Washington closed its diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia for two days due to an imminent threat against U.S. government buildings in the kingdom.
Britain also warned that militants were in the final stages of planning attacks in the kingdom, and Australia said it had received “credible reports” that Islamic extremists were planning strikes in the near future.
But Saudi Arabia — battling a two-year campaign of al-Qaida violence which has killed at least 91 foreign nationals and Saudi civilians — said it had no solid information about any imminent attacks.
