Foreigners Targeted in New Saudi Attack

Attackers opened fire on an oil refinery co-owned by Exxon Mobil and the Saudi company SABIC in the kingdom’s northwestern town.

Two Americans, two Britons, an Australian and a Saudi were killed, company officials and diplomats said.

Earlier reports suggested three Americans were killed Interior Ministry officials said three attackers were also killed.

"At 7:00 am (0400 GMT) on Saturday four men entered the headquarters of a Saudi contractor in Yanbu and fired at random on Saudis and foreigners," the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

"Security forces chased them and they took refuge in residential areas and hijacked some cars. Three of them were killed and a fourth was wounded. There were a number of deaths and injuries among Saudis and foreigners," it added.

Diplomats’ confirmation

US diplomats in Saudi Arabia also said they had received reports that Westerners, including Americans, had been attacked in Yanbu and some were killed.

A hotel employee in Yanbu confirmed a Westerner was killed in a five-star hotel in the city.